Highlights: Philadelphia joined a growing number of Democratic-led cities calling themselves places of refuge for transgender people when Mayor Jim Kenney signed Tuesday an executive order protecting those who come here for gender-affirming care.

In nearly half of states nationwide, Republican-led legislatures have enacted legislation to restrict access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgical treatments for transgender youth.

The newly signed executive order prohibits the city from using any resources to assist states that seek to investigate or punish someone for providing or receiving gender-affirming care in Philadelphia.