Overview
- The vote preserves a September pause on a 2021 ordinance that empowered the city to investigate discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations.
- Mayor Jim Ross said Arlington remains committed to inclusion and will pursue a solution acceptable to residents, council members and staff.
- Officials referenced concerns over more than $60 million in federal aid and said a $50,000 grant was already lost because it included the word “inclusive.”
- LGBTQ+ advocates pressed for full restoration and questioned claims about funding threats, while conservative groups warned the ordinance could create legal exposure.
- The decision marks the first known municipal rollback tied to the current White House’s scrutiny of LGBTQ and DEI language.