Yelverton said that the changes are the first in a round of actions the council will vote on to comply with the new federal policy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
What actions will the City Council vote on to help Arlington comply with federal law?<\/strong><\/p>\n The anti-discrimination chapter<\/a> of the city code formalized protections granted under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, such as fair housing, employment and public accommodations for protected classes.\u00a0<\/p>\n The chapter does stray from the original Civil Rights Act\u2019s language by including sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes for each category.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe City of Arlington recognizes that legal protections extended to most protected classes under federal and state law have not been completely extended to protect individuals against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,\u201d the chapter reads.\u00a0<\/p>\n If the chapter of the city code is violated, the city can file a lawsuit or help conciliate issues regarding discrimination against these groups.\u00a0<\/p>\n Citizens who believe they have been discriminated against in a manner that violates the chapter can file complaints with the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n The city will then investigate the complaint and go through a conciliation process. If the complaint cannot be resolved, the city refers it to a state or federal agency.\u00a0<\/p>\n While there are no state laws prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in housing and employment, there are federal and local laws that extend those protections.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that businesses of 15 or more employees could not refuse to hire or fire<\/a> individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.\u00a0<\/p>\n The current Arlington fair housing code<\/a> classifies sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. The code was amended to include those classes when the anti-discrimination ordinance was passed<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is no federal or state law prohibiting public accommodation-based discrimination against those classes, though the current city anti-discrimination ordinance protects them.\u00a0<\/p>\n A new state law, passed during the Texas Legislature\u2019s special session, restricts<\/a> which bathrooms individuals can use on government-owned property.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other cities have begun to roll back their DEI efforts in response to President Trump\u2019s executive order.\u00a0<\/p>\n In August, the Fort Worth City Council voted 7-4 to suspend its DEI initiatives<\/a> to protect a yearly $40.6 million in combined federal funds and grants.\u00a0<\/p>\n Fort Worth\u2019s nondiscrimination section in the city code<\/a>, passed in 2000 and amended in 2009 to include gender identity and sexual orientation, still stands, according to city officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n City Attorney Molly Shortall said city staff need time to evaluate what changes need to be made to Arlington\u2019s ordinance, and that across cities, each ordinance is different.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cEven though they may have an ordinance that\u2019s titled anti-discrimination, it doesn\u2019t mean the content of it is the same,\u201d Shortall told the Arlington Report.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Arlington officials, there are no programs, funding or staff tied to the anti-discrimination chapter.<\/p>\n HELP Center for LGBTQ Health CEO DeeJay Johannessen was one of the original champions of the ordinance, urging the council<\/a> to pass it in 2021.\u00a0<\/p>\n Johannessen, who also spoke to the council ahead of the vote, said he was made aware of the possible suspension of the ordinance after the council\u2019s agenda was released.\u00a0<\/p>\n One of the most concerning parts of this process was how quickly the council moved to suspend the ordinance, Johannessen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact that basic rights and protections can be so quickly thrown out should be alarming to everyone,\u201d Johannessen said in an interview with the Arlington Report.\u00a0<\/p>\n Eleven audience members spoke to the council, with nine against the suspension and two for it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those against the action said that a suspension of the ordinance was a capitulation to President Trump, while those in favor said that the suspension was necessary to keep federal funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very unfortunate that we came down to suspending an anti-discrimination chapter, but obviously, everyone here has made very thoughtful decisions and thoughtful considerations to prevent harm from being done from that effort,\u201d Trevor McCullough, a UT-Arlington student, told council members.\u00a0<\/p>\n The two votes against suspension of the anti-discrimination chapter came from council members Barbara Odom-Wesley and Nikkie Hunter.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ahead of the vote, Odom-Wesley moved to table the discussion and said that she could not vote for the suspension as it was a step backwards.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot support suspending the anti-discrimination chapter because that says to me, \u2018It\u2019s OK to discriminate now,\u2019 and it\u2019s just not OK with me,\u201d Odom-Wesley told the audience.\u00a0<\/p>\n The table motion failed 2-6.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the City Council voted on the suspension:<\/strong><\/p>\n YES<\/strong><\/p>\n Mayor Jim Ross<\/p>\n Mauricio Galante<\/p>\n Raul Gonzalez<\/p>\n Andrew Piel<\/p>\n Long Pham<\/p>\n Bowie Hogg<\/p>\n NO<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n Barbara Odom-Wesley<\/p>\n Nikkie Hunter<\/p>\n Rebecca Boxall was not present during the Sept. 2 evening meeting.<\/p>\n The City Council also voted to amend the Unity Council\u2019s section in the city code.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Unity Council was established in 2020<\/a> with hopes that it would help create unity in the city and create ways to combat racism.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since then, the council has continued to research ways to increase equity in the city and bring forward recommendations to the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n In both 2021<\/a> and 2023<\/a>, the Unity Council created reports with its recommendations along with updates on existing recommendations.\u00a0<\/p>\n In May, Chief Equity Officer Troy Williams told City Council that the Unity Council may need to pivot<\/a> based on the new anti-DEI measures, according to KERA News.\u00a0<\/p>\n The amendment focuses on much of the language used for the council.\u00a0<\/p>\n The original administration chapter<\/a> of the city code, which details what an organization is meant to do, makes mention of goals to \u201celiminate racism\u201d and \u201cidentify ways to support the needs of diverse communities, including but not limited to individuals with disabilities, LGBT individuals and senior or aging individuals.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The proposed amendment<\/a> would remove the words racism and the specification of individuals with disabilities and LGBT individuals, opting instead to state the council should \u201cidentify ways to support the needs of all Arlington residents, visitors and stakeholders.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Jason Shelton, a UT-Arlington professor and head of the Unity Council, said that the language behind the program may change, but the goal of the council will remain the greater good of the community.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis does not mean that we step back or that we stop moving forward,\u201d Shelton told the City Council. \u201cIt just means we focus on issues that impact all of us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Hunter, who was on the original Unity Council, was the sole no vote on the amendment ordinance. The Unity Council has done a great job and does not require changes, Hunter said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really think that they need any type of amendments as far as changing anything they are doing,\u201d Hunter told the Arlington Report.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since both the suspension and amendment were ordinances, they will require a second vote<\/a> to enact, according to the city charter.<\/p>\n Chris Moss is a reporting fellow for the Arlington Report. Contact him at chris.moss@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Arlington Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n\n
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Trevor McCullough, a UT-Arlington student, speaks to Arlington City Council during a meeting on Sept. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0902-ArlingtonCityCouncil-05-1024x683.jpg\")
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Council member Barbara Odom-Wesley rests her hands on her glasses during the Arlington City Council meeting on Sept. 2, 2025. Odom-Wesley was one of two council members who voted \u201cNo\u201d to the suspension of the anti-discrimination chapter. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0902-ArlingtonCityCouncil-04.jpg\")
Mayor Jim Ross leads the Arlington City Council meeting on Sept. 2, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
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