Arlington’s fight over LGBTQ+ rights isn’t over yet. And now, residents will be waiting a little longer for the next big development.

City leaders were expected to vote Nov. 18 on a proposal that would strip sexual orientation and gender identity from Arlington’s anti-discrimination ordinance. That meeting was postponed (again) after a council member’s family member died, pushing the vote to Dec. 9, Mayor Jim Ross confirmed.

Even with the delay, the issue continues to fuel concern and confusion across the city. Arlington is believed to be the first U.S. city to consider removing existing protections for LGBTQ+ residents, a move that has drawn local and statewide scrutiny.

What the proposal would do

The city is now weighing whether to “restore” protections that prevent discrimination in employment and public accommodations. But according to internal city documents, that restoration comes with a major caveat: if Arlington receives a legal opinion advising that the protections could pose financial or legal risk, the city could remove them entirely.

That conditional clause has become a flashpoint for LGBTQ+ advocates.

Advocates call the proposal misleading

DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the Help Center for LGBTQ+ Health, has been at the forefront of a community-wide campaign urging residents to speak out. His organization has been blasting out mass texts and emails to keep people informed and mobilized. Johannessen estimates that about 36,000 LGBTQ+ residents in Arlington rely on discrimination protections like those the council is voting on. 

City leaders weigh cost, risk and community trust

Ross has publicly stated he plans to vote to keep the current anti-discrimination ordinance as-is. Still, he acknowledged how complicated the process has become as the council tries to balance legal concerns, political pressure and public trust.

What’s next?

The council is now expected to revisit and potentially vote on the proposal at its Dec. 9 meeting.

Until then, LGBTQ+ advocates say they’ll continue organizing, educating residents and pushing leaders to keep the city’s protections strong and intact.

— Caroline Savoie

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