HELP Center Warns Arlington Vote Eliminating Local Anti-Discrimination Protections Puts City’s Residents — and Reputation — at Risk 

 In a single vote, the Mayor and five members of Council reversed years of progress and abandoned their responsibility to Arlington residents, putting both our personal and economic security at risk. 

Arlington’s decades-long work to build a reputation as a welcoming destination for sports tourism and major events was put at serious risk by this vote. This decision threatens our reputation, weakens our economic future, and does so in response to a phantom threat no other city felt compelled to fear. 

Arlington now stands apart from every other major U.S. city by eliminating its local civil rights protections across all protected classes and absolving itself of responsibility beyond referring victims to federal agencies. 

“In my wildest imagination, I never thought this Council would remove local anti-discrimination protections from every resident to avoid potential unwanted attention,” said DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center, referencing Mayor Jim Ross’s comments in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Mayor Ross indicated the city had been left with two difficult choices: completely remove the ordinance and all the protections it offered residents in the one of the most diverse city in Texas, or risk unwanted attention from the Trump administration.” Given these perceived options, it is deeply troubling that abandoning local protections for all residents was the option selected. 

Had the previous ordinance remained suspended, Arlington would retain the ability to receive complaints, investigate concerns, facilitate dialogue, and attempt resolution — even if not obligated to do so. Under the newly adopted ordinance, the City’s role is explicitly limited to providing referrals, nothing else. 

We strongly urge the City of Arlington to proactively submit the revised ordinance language to all federal and state funding agencies to confirm compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and grant requirements. Identifying potential issues in advance helps protect critical funding; discovering non-compliance during an audit or investigation can place that funding at serious risk.

Further: 

• We remind tourism professionals and event planners of their duty of care and urge them to carefully assess whether Arlington’s new ordinance aligns with their clients’ policies, risk standards, and organizational values.

• We encourage local, state, and national organizations to review these changes and evaluate their impact on the people they serve. 

The HELP Center for LGBTQ+ Health is deeply grateful to Mayor Pro-Tem Dr. Barbara Odom-Wesley and Councilwoman Nikkie Hunter for standing up for our community and voting to protect the dignity and rights of Arlington residents. Their leadership and courage mean more than words can express during this difficult moment. Councilman Bowie Hogg voted against the ordinance in alignment with his position of opposing an anti-discrimination ordinance.