The city council for Arlington, Texas, has voted not to reinstate its anti-discrimination ordinance. The provisions include LGBTQ+ protections based on gender identity, and the council has been pressured to roll them back to avoid losing federal funding under the presidents Two Sexes executive order.Im just disappointed right now, said Nikkie Hunter, an Arlington city council member who voted for reinstating the LGBTQ+ protections. I would hope that we can sit down as a council and work out some type of agreement to bring back these protections for everyone in the city so that everyone feels safe and protected here in the city of Arlington. Related University forces students into dangerous environments to comply with GOP bathroom bill The anti-discrimination ordinance was first introduced in 2021 in response to the death of George Floyd and included protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, or other protected classes.It was previously suspended in September, and the council at the time cited pressure from the presidential administration and the risk of losing federal funding. According to Trey Yelverton, the Arlington city manager, Arlington receives $65 million in federal grants, which fund firefighters, housing assistance, a city rideshare program (Via), and a transport service for the elderly and disabled (Handitran). Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today At a hearing in October, 44 people signed up to speak at the council meeting, with another 57 non-speakers showing opposition to removing LGBTQ+ protections from the ordinance. The matter was carried over to this weeks meeting while the council consulted with lawyers on how to proceed with reinstating the ordinance without losing federal funding.At the meeting where the reinstatement of the ordinance was voted down, another 41 people spoke in favor of keeping the ordinance, while 11 spoke against it.Arlington Mayor Jim Ross, who voted to reinstate the ordinance,made a statementafter the vote suggesting that the ordinances provisions would remain in place in spirit: I assure you all that in spite of the vote tonight, the City of Arlington remains committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable community for all residents and ensuring that no one individual faces discrimination. I pledge to each and every one of yall that we will continue to collaborate with community leaders, council members, and city staff to reach a solution that is palatable to all. The mayors response suggests that the capitulation was a result of federal pressure.While a clause was proposed to suspend sections of the Arlington ordinances rules if they violated federal grant requirements, that was not enough to reinstate the protections. It is notable that the people who spoke against the ordinance at the meeting shared a common concern about the inclusion of gender identity, rather than about the ordinances other protections.Mayor Ross said that the subject of the LGBTQ+ protections and the anti-discrimination ordinance will be brought before the council again in the future and that he is committed to finding a solution.Anti-LGBTQ+ groups online have been celebrating the rollback in protections. ! - " -- , ' pic.twitter.com/STiYpwmsjD Texas Values (text txvalues to 797979 for update) (@txvalues) December 10, 2025Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.