Local LGBTQ leaders are warning President Donald Trump has made progress on using federal agents to acquire the DC Metropolitan Police Department.
Trump on Monday called Section 740 of the DC Home Rules Act to “declare a criminal emergency” in the district and began patrol the country’s capital by sending 800 national guards.
Several district leaders have criticized Trump for using misleading statistics to justify this power grab.
Mayor DC Muriel Bowser initially tried to reshape the Trump acquisition as something that could benefit the district, saying in a meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi on Tuesday, “We will make the most of the additional executive support we have.” She later began to betray the statement.
“This is a time when the community needs to dive in and we all need to do what we can to protect our city, in our lanes, protect our city, protect our autonomy, protect our home rules and get to the other side of this guy.
One of these local leaders, District 5 Councilman Zachary Parker, was called the Trump administration’s claims of “bloodthirsty criminals” and “wild youth roving mobs” and a distraction from the unfounded “large game.”
In two separate Instagram posts, Parker (the district’s openly LGBTQ councillor) called this move more about Trump’s “suffling” power over Democrats’ bases than fixing crime issues.
“The suggestion that crime is out of control is not supported by data,” Parker wrote Tuesday. His personal accountquote Department of Justice Data From the beginning of this year, the president’s claims have been shown to be unfounded. “Violent crime hit its lowest level in 30 years in 2024,” he continued, citing the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Data showing a 26% reduction A violent crime only in the past year.
In another post, Parker called tactics by the Trump administration A tough move that reflects the dictatorial takeover of history.
“The raids from people today are derivatives of power that have been policed ​​by the neighborhood since the ’70s,” his second post said. “The ploy to seize the capital and destroy power goes back to colonial times and more recently Hungary and Türkiye.”
The DC LGBTQ Budget Union is comprised of multiple organizations and supports fighting for resources to support LGBTQ residents.
“This is a blatant violation of DC’s rights to self-government and dangerous escalation rooted in political theatres, not public safety,” the coalition’s official statement read. “We stand to be free for local community leaders and other supporters fighting for DC (including the evergreen battle for the nation), and everyone who rejects this federal overreach… This move is not about safety, it’s about control and fear.”
The statement also reflects Council member Parker’s point that both federal and local data show a decline in violent crime despite major budget cuts to cities prompted by Trump.
“Crime is declining. Data is clear, and attempts to counter the district’s issues have been directly blocked during a federal budget war, which forced the government to cut $1 billion from local budgets.”
The letter, sent to members of the Union and supporters, explicitly referred to these actions as anti-LGBTQ and anti-colours.
“This kind of dreadful federal overreach will inevitably bring the most irreparable harm to our black people, browns, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ brothers — a community that already has the brunt of systemic violence, excessive polyclinism and underinvestment,” the email said.
“We know that safety comes from housing, healthcare and justice, as LGBTQ+ supports working to ensure equitable investment in our communities. And we don’t demonize the most vulnerable people in this city.”
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
