RESOLUTION NO. 220673
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Recognizing the history of Womontown, an “intentional women’s community” established in the Longfellow neighborhood in the early 1990s.
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WHEREAS, in the late 1980s and 1990s, women encountered significant obstacles to homeownership as a result of the ongoing gender pay gap, lack of representation in government leadership, and mistrust on the part of lending institutions; and
WHEREAS, these challenges were exacerbated for members of the lesbian community; and
WHEREAS, Drea Nedelsky and Mary Ann Hopper recognized these issues and set out to establish Womontown as a haven for queer women who craved the comforts of community and the financial security of homeownership; and
WHEREAS, the founders of Womontown launched a grassroots campaign to recruit lesbians to purchase homes or rent apartments in the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Womontown drew a wide variety of lesbian women from Kansas City, across the United States, and internationally; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Womontown created a life-changing community in which they assisted each other in renovating, maintaining, and enhancing their homes and engendered important and long-lasting social networks; and
WHEREAS, the residents of Womontown were successful in creating a neighborhood where they could be themselves without fear, where women could walk hand-in-hand without the judgements and criticisms normally encountered in the straight world, and where queer women could emerge from the shadow of oppression into a place of refuge and joy; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
That the City of Kansas City, Missouri recognized the importance of the establishment of Womontown and its enduring legacy in the Kansas City LGBTQ+ community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to representatives of Womontown with appreciation from the Mayor and Council for their enduring contributions to the Kansas City LGBTQ+ community.
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