(TX) The administration is pressuring this city to drop LGBTQ+ protections...

[Jessica_Rose]

The administration is pressuring this city to drop LGBTQ+ protections. They're trying to stop it.

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/10/the-administration-is-pressuring-this-city-to-drop-lgbtq-protections-theyre-trying-to-stop-it/ 🔗

Faefyx Collington (15 Oct 2025)

Trapped under pressure from the presidential administration, the city council for Arlington, Texas, is struggling to find a way to avoid rolling back LGBTQ+ protections without losing vital federal grants. Last night, they bought themselves more time.

Pointing to pressure from the current administration, Arlington's city council took a vote in September to suspend the anti-discrimination section of the city code, pending review. On Tuesday evening, they held the first reading for the proposed changes to the code, which would remove protections based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

"In light of changes occurring at a federal level, the city has needed to explore modifications to a number of programs and policies, such as our anti-discrimination chapter," Mayor Jim Ross said as he introduced the agenda item. "It's important that we remain compliant with federal directives to protect receipt of federal funds and not subject the city to liability for additional financial consequences. However, we must balance the need to make modifications with the need to ensure that every single member of our community feels welcome, protected, respected, and is treated with dignity."

Ross went on to move for the matter to be continued until November 18, "so that our staff [...] can thoroughly vet the impact of any such changes on our relationship, both with the federal government and with our community." His other comments made it clear that legal consultation about the city's responsibilities and the federal government's likelihood of withholding funds would be part of the vetting process.

[Lori Dee]

It is a shame that a city would even consider sacrificing the rights of its citizens in pursuit of money. It is equally shameful, if not more so, that the federal government uses extortion (a crime) to enforce a strictly political agenda.