'Especially Frightening Time': For Beverly Immigrant, Transgender Residents

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill responded to what he called "an especially frightening time in America" for immigrants and transgender residents as he issued a set of resources for the two groups of Beverly residents called "Laws and Resources Related to Transgender and Immigrant Rights."

Cahill's statement comes as new federal policies target undocumented immigrants and look to prevent transgender individuals from participating in female sports as part of the Trump Administration's greater stated goal of reversing the imposition of so-called "woke" policies on American institutions, businesses and government-funded agencies.

"In Beverly, we value and care about our transgender residents and our immigrant residents, their
families and friends and all who love and care about them," Cahill said in a statement released Friday afternoon. "In America, members of the trans community have long been and continue today to be targeted with condemnation, hatred and violence. Also today in America, immigrants, including our own Beverly immigrant families and individuals, are being targeted and are living in fear as well.

"Today, I ask everyone who calls Beverly home to please live each day with kindness, empathy, and compassion for all our neighbors. As your mayor and one Beverly resident, I commit to do this each day."

While the resources do not state the city will take an active role in opposition of evolving federal government polices, Cahill said: "To our trans and immigrant neighbors, know that I stand with you and I ask that the entire Beverly community to please join me."

"As Beverly residents, it is important that we value and respect each other as we all live our lives, so we can be a community that is safe and welcoming for all our residents," he said.

The updated city website information related to trans and immigrant rights can be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)