Sammamish commissioner resigns after anti-LGBTQ+ comments

A Sammamish City Planning Commissioner has resigned following anti-LGBTQ+ remarks he made at a meeting last week.

During a public meeting June 1, Planning Commission member Wassim Fayed asserted that members of the LGBTQ+ community are “promoting diseases and infestation into the minds of our kids in schools.”

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He went on to say that he believed that “God created us as a male and a female and to go against the creation of God and to spread diseases in the community is something that we should speak up against.”

The comments and video were posted to Reddit, pointing out that Wassim Fayed is also the owner of Tanoor, a Lebanese restaurant near Lake Union.

Before the Council could meet and discuss the comments and possible discipline, Fayad offered his resignation from the planning commission.

The City of Sammamish said that Fayad’s remarks do not reflect the values or views of the city.

The opinions expressed by the Commissioner do not reflect the values or views of the City of Sammamish, the City Council, or City leadership. While we acknowledge the Commissioner’s right to free speech, we were shocked to hear the comments made and we strongly condemn them. These comments do not represent our city or community. The City of Sammamish is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where hate has no place.

Mayor Callie Clark, who is Sammamish’s first LGBTQ+ mayor, accepted Fayad’s resignation. The resignation was effective immediately.

KIRO 7 News contributed to this report