Arlington to vote on new anti-discrimination ordinance without LGBTQ protections
After months of debate, the Arlington City Council will consider Tuesday a new version of the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance that does not explicitly mention race, gender or sexual orientation.
Last fall, the council suspended the previous ordinance amid concerns over losing federal funding. The proposed new ordinance on the agenda tonight would be a final step. It does not classify any specific groups as protected under city code, instead referencing federal legislation.
Here’s what we know.
Federal funding threats
The decision to remove protections for specific groups is part of several changes to Arlington city programs in an attempt to protect $65 million in federal funding, which President Donald Trump has threatened to yank from cities that do not comply with a series of anti-DEI directives.
If the new ordinance passes, Arlington would become one of the first cities in the United States to remove explicit protections for LGBTQ+ residents because of Trump’s anti-DEI efforts.
The city of Fort Worth has generally ended DEI programs to comply with the Trump administration directives, but the city code still includes sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression as protected classes from discrimination.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross told the Star-Telegram that the federal funding at risk includes dollars needed for housing and public safety, and that the new ordinance would protect the city from federal liability.
Vote comes after multiple delays
Last September, the City Council passed an ordinance suspending the anti-discrimination chapter of the city’s code. After two delayed attempts to amend the ordinance, the council reaffirmed its suspension in December.
At that meeting, the council’s attempt to reinstate the previous ordinance failed 5-4. More than 30 people spoke in favor of reinstating it.
On Dec. 12, Arlington Pride organizers said they would cancel the summer 2026 event out of fear that attendees would not have protections written into the city code.
New ordinance defers to federal legislation
The ordinance on the table at Tuesday’s meeting is a stark change to the original anti-discrimination ordinance that the city passed in 2021.
The 2021 ordinance contained language saying that Arlington “recognizes that legal protections extended to most protected classes under federal and state law have not been completely extended to protect individuals against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.”
There is specific language describing discrimination against “a race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Additionally, the previous ordinance created ways for the city to investigate discrimination claims.
The updated ordinance describes people in a “protected class” as defined by:
- The Civil Rights Acts
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- The Age Discrimination Act of 1975
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978
- The Texas Commission on Human Rights Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Civil Rights Act of 1991
- The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.
The new ordinance removes mechanisms for the city to address complaints, and instead directs city staff to connect residents with outside resources.
“The Administrator will not conduct investigations into complaints, provide legal advice, advocate for the complainant, take sides in the dispute, or tell the complainant what to do,” the new ordinance reads.
Ross, the mayor, doesn’t think this new ordinance will make Arlington any less welcoming.
“Arlington is the most diverse city in the state of Texas, and I would argue we’re the most diverse because we’re the most welcoming, because we stand with open arms for everybody that wants to come here, regardless of who you worship, who you love, how you love, what your what the color of your skin is, or what your ethnicity is,” Ross said. “We are welcoming for everybody, and I would argue that this ordinance does not reflect a change in attitude about Arlington’s openness.”
What will happen tonight?
The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. to discuss and vote on the new ordinance, in addition to a resolution “condemning discrimination, bias and hate in the City of Arlington.”
In a Facebook post, District 1 council member Mauricio Galante said that the new ordinance “recognizes people’s civil protections without exposing our city to legal or financial risks.”
This story was originally published February 10, 2026 at 1:39 PM.
