Arlington City Council could vote to remove its LGBTQ+ protections; Help Center urges action

The Rainbow Texas Star, designed by Izzy Espinosa and located at 201 W. Main St. in downtown Arlington, is one of several different Texas Stars located around the city. (Photo by Cassie Quinn)

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On Friday, Oct. 10, the Help Center for LGBTQ+ Health responded to the recent suspension of anti-discrimination policies by the City of Arlington in September. Later in the month, Arlington’s City Attorney Molly Shortall proposed a revised anti-discrimination ordinance that could exclude protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. After objections to the proposal by some members, the Arlington City Council postponed the vote to Oct. 14.

The Help Center is based in Arlington.

Four years ago in June, Arlington City Council voted to approve a new ordinance and amend the city’s existing nondiscrimination ordinance to prohibit discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Dallas Voice editor Tammye Nash wrote then that the council voted to amend the Fair Housing Code chapter of the Code of the City of Arlington by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected statuses. And the council voted to adopt the Anti-Discrimination Chapter of the Code of the City of Arlington, as recommended by city staff.

That protected status hangs in the balance wherein Help Center encourages the community and its allies to “Stand Up for LGBTQ+ Protections in Arlington” by attending the concil meeting on Oct. 14.

The Help Center’s official statement from Friday:

On September 2, 2025, the City of Arlington suspended its entire anti-discrimination ordinance at the recommendation of the City Attorney, citing concerns about potential conflicts with new federal guidance from the U.S. Attorney General. We strongly disagree with this interpretation and have consistently advocated for the ordinance to remain unchanged. Notably, Arlington is the only city in Texas known to have suspended such protections in response to this guidance.

On September 10, the City Council agenda revealed a proposed revision that would strip sexual orientation and gender identity from the list of protected classes—while retaining protections for all others. In response, LGBTQ+ community leaders mobilized to ensure these vital protections remained in the ordinance.

During a closed executive session on September 16, the City Attorney introduced a new draft that preserved protections by redefining “sex” to include sexual orientation and gender identity, aligning with the Supreme Court’s decision in Bostock v. Clayton County. However, some council members objected, claiming they hadn’t had sufficient time to review the changes.

That evening, the Council postponed a vote on whether to keep protections for sexual orientation and gender identity until its next meeting on October 14.

LGBTQ+ residents of Arlington have been protected from discrimination since June 8, 2021, when the City Council unanimously added sexual orientation and gender identity to the ordinance. We will not stand by as our hard-won rights are threatened—especially based on a flawed legal interpretation.

We urge the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join us on October 14 to show the City Council that our Community will not accept the rollback of protections.

• If protections are excluded, we must show strong opposition.
• If protections are included, we must show strong support.
• Regardless of the outcome, we must demonstrate that our community SHOWS UP when our rights are at risk.

For more information about protocol for the City Council meeting, Help Center has provided this page and form.

–Rich Lopez