Councilman Joshua Thompson led the charge to strip the program's funding, claiming without evidence that it could influence students to join the LGBTQ+ community or pursue transgender identities.
Despite its success, Councilwoman Sarah Beauchamp strongly rebuked Thompson's remarks, emphasizing, '[W]e are not making them transgender. [The program is] not turning them homosexual by having a place for them to gather and feel safe.'
The Pizza Klatch program has averaged 27 attendees weekly in 2024, serving as a support system for LGBTQ+ youth and their allies, fostering inclusivity.
The Ellensburg City Council's decision to cut funding has sparked outrage and a grassroots campaign aimed at saving the Pizza Klatch initiative amidst rising debates over LGBTQ+ rights.
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