October 16 2025, 08:15 
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
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“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.
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Arlington, along with other cities across the United States, including nearby Fort Worth, has been threatened with the removal of federal funds by the federal government. This year’s executive order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing,” from January 20, 2025, as well as new federal guidelines established since then, require states and cities to remove support for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to be eligible for federal grants, which are often essential for a city to function.
At the end of February, Iowa rolled back its state-level protections by removing “gender identity” as a protected class from its Civil Rights Act. Fort Worth voted in August to end DEI programs to ensure continued federal funding, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. However, the city still includes protections for sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression as part of its city code.
Earlier this year, Portland, Oregon, which receives 126 federal grants totaling $387 million, primarily for housing and transportation, faced a similar issue. As reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, the city was required to change the wording of several city programs so that they no longer gave preference to those with “protected-class status” related to race or gender.
According to Arlington City Manager Trey Yelverton, speaking to the city council in September, Arlington receives $65 million in federal grants towards housing assistance, firefighters, a city rideshare program called Via, and a transport service for the elderly and disabled called Handitran.
Forty-four people signed up to have their voices heard at the Arlington city council meeting, alongside another 57 non-speakers who showed up in opposition to the amendment.
David Grebel, a pastor from the Celebration Community Church in Fort Worth, highlighted how recently the protections were added and condemned the consideration of removing them.
“Four years ago, in an act of moral courage, the city council unanimously decided that an anti-discrimination ordinance was incomplete without the inclusion of protections for sexual orientation and gender expression. But now that moral courage is wavering out of the fear. […] You have not yet been faced with the demand to bow, but you are considering bowing anyway.”
Keegan Dees, who identified himself as transgender, spoke of the real harm removing the protections would have.
“My very livelihood is on the line. And I just want you to look at me. I’m a human being. I face this violence because I moved to, unfortunately, Midlothian. They don’t have an ordinance like Arlington. And I was attacked. I’m sorry. It’s tough. I mean, we’re kind of the world’s punch bag right now. And when you think about this, just think about the human beings you’re affecting. […] I thank y’all for your time and I hope you make the right decision.”
Organizations, including Arlington Pride and HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness, are keeping watch on what comes next for the city council and are urging residents to show up and voice their opinions.
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