Arlington TX Suspends Anti-discrimination Ordinance over LGBTQ Protections

Mayor Jim Ross asked what kind of message they are sending to their children by removing these protections. "I would not be able to live with myself if I didn't vote yes on this ordinance," he said. / WFAA

The Arlington, TX City Council voted not to reinstate LGBTQ protections, and as a result, the city's entire anti-discrimination ordinance remained suspended.

The 5-4 vote gives Arlington the distinction of being the first US city to cave to Trump's demand to strip its citizens of civil rights protections, WFAA previously reported.

The vote bars language in the city’s ordinance passed in 2021 that prevents employers and lodging businesses from discriminating against people for their sexual orientation or gender identity. The council suspended the ordinance in September amid worry that more than $60 million in federal dollars the city planned to use on city services, including public safety, parks, and roads, could be lost if they kept it.

The hate group "Texas Values" lobbied against the inclusion of Sexual orientation and gender identity in the ordinance, arguing it would be in violation of state and federal laws.

Councilmember Rebecca Boxall described the 2021 ordinance as “bad policy,” saying it was a symbolic gesture at best and unenforceable at the city level. She argued existing laws give everyone the same protections.

“We already have the protections under our federal and state laws,” she said.

This is unequivocally false

Many Transgender Texans, myself included, weren't present at that council meeting because we had already left Arlington as the state legislature passed a law that invalidates our licenses. Another measure passed this year, a bathroom bill, makes overnight waits to testify against anti LGBT measures in Austin impossible. 

Another bill is pending that would make it a state felony to present yourself authentically to an employer or law enforcement.