Christian homeless shelter defends decision to turn away transgender woman

A Christian homeless shelter in Alaska has defended turning away a homeless transgender woman on a cold January evening.

The Downtown Hope Center shelter in Anchorage, Alaska, is under investigation from the city’s Equal Rights Commission after a vulnerable homeless trans woman with nowhere to sleep was denied access into the women’s shelter.

Police had dropped the unnamed woman, identified as Jessie Doe, at the overnight shelter in January 2018—but twice in two days she was turned away by staff.

The average overnight January temperature in Anchorage, Alaska, is -12° Celsius (9° Fahrenheit).

The shelter’s owners have gone to court in a bid to shut down the city’s discrimination investigation, with their lawyers arguing that they should be free to discriminate against transgender people.

Homeless shelter defended by anti-LGBT law firm

Evangelical law firm Alliance Defending Freedom is representing Downtown Hope Center in the case, asking the US District Court for an injunction against the city on January 11.

Extremism watchdog Southern Poverty Law Center lists Alliance Defending Freedom as a anti-LGBT hate group due to its work to overturn LGBT+ discrimination protections, with the firm most notably representing Colorado baker Jack Phillips, who has refused to bake cakes for gay and trans customers.

In its release and court filing, ADF repeatedly misgenders the homeless transgender woman, referring to her as an “inebriated and injured man.”

The Hope Center homeless shelter in Anchorage, Alaska.

Alliance Defending Freedom attorney David Cortman said: “All Americans should be free to live out their faith and serve their neighbours—including the battered and homeless—without being targeted or harassed by the government.

“The staff and volunteers at Downtown Hope Center open their arms and their doors, motivated by their faith and deep concern for the vulnerable.

• Nov 29

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