Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said the city needs more time to seek legal counsel before making a decision.

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Arlington city council on Tuesday postponed a vote on whether to remove protections for LGBTQ+ residents from the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance. 

The move, if approved, would make Arlington one of the first, if not the first, U.S. cities to take that step.

In a jam-packed meeting, Arlington residents and LGBTQ+ advocates showed up in opposition to the proposal.

Mayor Jim Ross said the city needs more time to seek legal counsel and understand the full implications of the proposed changes before making a final decision. The council voted unanimously to table the issue until Nov. 18.

“It’s important that we remain compliant with federal directives and not subject the city to liability,” Ross said. “We must balance the need to make modifications with the need to ensure every single member of our community feels welcome, protected, respected, and is treated with dignity.”

City staff had proposed removing “sexual orientation” and “gender identity and expression” from Arlington’s definition of discrimination, saying the update was necessary to comply with federal grant requirements. Officials have warned that failure to update the ordinance could put $65 million in federal funding at risk.

If approved, the change would mean the city would no longer handle complaints from LGBTQ+ residents who say they have faced discrimination.

Fourty-four residents spoke during Tuesday’s meeting, urging the council to reject the proposal. 

“There is no legal reason, none, to make these changes,” said DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness. “The staff report recommending these changes misinterprets the law. There’s a big difference between anti-discrimination ordinances and DEI.” 

Several residents shared emotional pleas and personal stories about the impact such a change could have.

Keagan D., a transgender Arlington resident, said their “very livelihood” depends on local protections.

“I’m a human being,” they said through tears. “I faced violence before. It’s tough. We’re the world’s punching bag right now. Think about the humans you’re affecting.”

Raegan, another Arlington resident, told council members she felt betrayed.

“I’ve been at pride festivals with some of you,” she said. “Why are we bending now? Please make the right choices for all of your citizens, not just some.”

Will Womack said Arlington’s diversity is part of what drew him to the city in the first place.

“One of the main reasons I moved to Arlington was because there’s an abundance of riches when it comes to our people and our culture,” he said. “Why should Arlington walk away from that?”

Other speakers expressed frustration with what they viewed as the city caving to federal pressure.

“My biggest concern is, where does it end?” one resident said. “We start with taking away basic housing and jobs from LGBT people, and what’s next? Women? Minorities? I feel like Arlington needs to stand up and have a backbone.”

Even among those urging caution, some acknowledged the financial stakes. Attorney Gray Pearson told council members he was “concerned about this” but said they needed more legal clarity.

“We cannot risk our federal funding. The ordinance needs to conform with the law,” he said. “You don’t have a legal opinion letter, you have a conclusion letter. Request a proper legal opinion from your city attorney.”

Ross said that is exactly what the council has requested before revisiting the issue.

“We’re asking for a full report as to why and what needs to be done,” Ross said. 

The packed council chambers included residents, faith leaders, teachers and advocacy groups. Many said the proposal undermines progress Arlington made in 2021, when it added sexual orientation and gender identity to its anti-discrimination ordinance with unanimous approval.

Other speakers praised the city’s previous support of the LGBTQ community, pointing to the large outcome of the 2025 Arlington Pride parade, which drew more than 15,000 people. 

The motion to table the vote passed unanimously. The council is now expected to revisit the proposal on Nov. 18.

Until then, Arlington’s current anti-discrimination protections remain in place.