Arlington city leaders may restore LGBTQ+ protections, but legal challenges could still erase them

ARLINGTON, Texas — A highly watched vote on whether to remove LGBTQ+ protections from Arlington’s anti-discrimination ordinance has been postponed until Dec. 9 after a council member experienced a death in the family.

The vote, which was scheduled for the council’s Nov. 18 meeting, will now happen on Dec. 9th, according to Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. 

The delay comes as tension continues to build around the proposal, which would eliminate language that bars discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Arlington is considered the first city to weigh removing explicit protections for LGBTQ+ residents.

Arlington is now considering restoring the protections that prohibit employers and businesses from discriminating against LGBTQ+ residents. But city documents note that if the city receives a legal opinion advising otherwise, those protections would then be removed.

DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the Help Center for LGBTQ+ Health, is leading a citywide campaign urging residents to oppose the change. He said his organization has been sending mass texts and emails to keep the community engaged.

“We’re never gonna sit back while civil rights are being stripped away,” Johannessen said. 

Johannessen said the proposal would remove existing protections for about 36,000 LGBTQ+ residents in Arlington.

“They’re calling it a restoration, but intentionally or not, it’s a bait and switch,” Johannessen said. 

Mayor Jim Ross said he will vote to keep the city’s current anti-discrimination ordinance intact. He acknowledged the process has been difficult as the council tries to balance community concerns with legal and financial considerations.

“It’s a difficult process. I think we’ve come up with a solution. We’re fine-tuning that as we speak,” Ross said. “I want everybody in Arlington to feel like we’re taking care of them, but when you’re talking hundreds of millions of dollars, it’s tough.”

The council is now expected to take up the proposal again on Dec. 9.