Texas City Council cancels Arlington Pride after scrapping LGBTQ+ protections

A Texas city has cancelled its annual Pride celebration after the local council voted to repeal anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ residents, sparking anger among activists and community leaders.

The Arlington City Council voted 5-4 in December to remove ordinances safeguarding sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment and city services. The protections, introduced in 2021, were scrapped following concerns that maintaining them could jeopardise tens of millions of dollars in federal funding under new diversity and inclusion restrictions.

Organisers of Arlington Pride, which has grown into one of North Texas’s largest LGBTQ+ events, said they could not guarantee the safety of attendees without basic legal protections. “We cannot in good conscience invite people to celebrate in a city that refuses to provide even the most fundamental safeguards,” said DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center.

The decision has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups and residents, who accuse the council of bowing to political pressure at the expense of equality. Mayor Jim Ross, who voted to reinstate protections, insisted the city remains committed to inclusion, but acknowledged the financial risks cited by opponents.

Arlington Pride, which attracted up to 30,000 participants in recent years, will remain suspended until protections are restored. Activists have vowed to continue lobbying for change, warning that the rollback leaves LGBTQ+ residents vulnerable and undermines the city’s reputation as a welcoming community.