The Arlington City Council voted 5–4 on Tuesday to keep suspended sections of a city rule dealing with sexual orientation and “gender identity” off the books, extending a months-long debate over whether reinstating the language could threaten millions of dollars in federal funding.
The disputed language was added to a city ordinance in 2021. The council voted in September to suspend those sections after city officials warned that keeping them in place could jeopardize more than $60 million in federal grants Arlington uses for services such as public safety, parks, and road work, per the Texas Tribune.
Council Splits After Extended Public Comment
During public comment, 41 speakers urged the council to restore the suspended language, while 11 opposed doing so. Residents expressed competing views on whether the ordinance had any real enforcement mechanism and whether reinstating it would endanger taxpayer-funded federal grants.
Council Members Mauricio Galante, Raul Gonzalez, Rebecca Boxall, Long Pham, and Bowie Hogg voted to continue the suspension.
Galante, who previously signaled support for reinstating the language, said after the meeting he changed his vote because concerns about federal funding and government overreach remained unresolved.
“There was no consensus on the language that I believe will protect the city guarantee to protect the federal funds for the people who need it the most, the most vulnerable people,” Galante said, according to the Fort Worth Report.
Mayor Jim Ross and Council Members Nikkie Hunter, Andrew Piel, and Barbara Odom-Wesley voted in favor of restoring the suspended sections.
“I am just disappointed right now,” Hunter said. “I would hope that we can sit down as a council and work out some type of agreement to bring back this language so that everyone feels safe and protected here in the city of Arlington.”
Ross said the matter would likely come back before the council.
During debate, Ross framed his comments through a personal lens.
“Sixty-five-year-old white heterosexual Christian man,” Ross said. “If I want to know what it is like to be Black, I should probably ask the Black community. If I want to know what it is like to be Latino or Asian, or Muslim or Jewish or Hindu, or gay or transgender, I should probably go to them and ask them.”
Funding Concerns Remain Central
Arlington officials previously reported losing a $50,000 federal grant earlier this year that included the word “inclusive,” per the Texas Tribune. Some residents warned that reinstating the suspended language could put additional federal support at risk.
“Establishing the city ordinance that cannot override state and federal laws extends beyond federal guidelines and could unintentionally place at risk federal funding,” resident Cathy Rocha told the council.
Others argued that removing the language sends the wrong signal about the city’s expectations.
“These kinds of policies go beyond legal implications,” resident Dallas Schwab said. “You are telling people who is worthy of protection.”
Debate Over Whether The Language Was Enforceable
Boxall said the ordinance would not have provided the city with any meaningful enforcement authority.
“From the very beginning, it was unenforceable at the city level,” she said, per the Texas Tribune. “It does not offer protection. So in that respect, it is just misleading.”
Ash Hall, a strategist with the ACLU of Texas, disagreed, arguing the ordinance gave the city authority to review complaints and set expectations for businesses.
The proposal considered Tuesday included new wording stating that any section of the rule deemed to violate federal grant requirements through a court order or legal opinion would be automatically suspended. The change did not alter the outcome.
What Happens Next
Ross and several council members said they plan to explore revised language that addresses the issues raised. No timeline has been set for when the topic will return to the agenda.
