""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 said, via the Dallas Morning News. Arlington's current anti-discrimination ordinance prohibits "any direct or indirect exclusion, distinction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or other differentiation in the treatment of a person or persons because of a race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.""
"The vote was originally intended for Tuesday, just one month after the council temporarily suspended the clause in September due to threats from Donald Trump's administration. Officials said they would revokec $65 million in federal grant money from the city if it did not remove language related to diversity, equity, and inclusion from its municipal code. Both Arlington and Fort Worth subsequently voted to end their DEI programs and rewrite ordinances to exclude phrases related to race and gender."
Arlington City Council postponed a vote on a revised ordinance that would remove "gender identity and expression" and "sexual orientation" as protected characteristics from the city's anti-discrimination policy. The mayor requested more time to examine legal consequences and emphasized balancing modifications with ensuring every community member feels welcome and treated with dignity. The current ordinance prohibits discrimination based on numerous characteristics including sexual orientation and gender identity. The measure follows a temporary suspension after federal threats to revoke $65 million in grants unless DEI language was removed; both Arlington and Fort Worth ended DEI programs. If approved, Arlington would be the first city to rescind such protections.
Read at Advocate.com
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