Queerguru wasn’t actively looking for a reason to never visit Texas again, but its just been handed one by the City Council of Arlington rejected a plan to ban discrimination against gay and transgender residents.  Initially, it had passed unanimously in 2021, the ordinance prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity for housing, employment and public services. Discrimination against race, religion, national origin, sex and disability was also banned.  Back in September, the City Council had temporarily suspended the ordinance over fears that Arlington risked losing more than $60 million in federal funding after The Orange Man pledged to withhold money from cities with diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs.

This latest vote makes Arlington one of the first cities in the country, if not the first, to repeal a nondiscrimination ordinance over fears of clashing with the Trump administration, as his order has sown widespread confusion among cities 

However, after this vote, the news got even worse when the Organizers of Arlington Pride, one of the largest events in North Texas that started in 2021, announced on Friday that they will cancel next year’s event  This past year it drew more than 15,000 people to downtown in Jun and the all-day festival featured performances by RuPaul’s Drag Race queens, live music, an art show and local food vendors.

The head of the HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness said in a statement the organization would not invite visitors to a city that does not offer “the most basic protections.”  DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center, added Pride is about safety, celebration, and community, without local anti-discrimination safeguards, we cannot guarantee those values for our attendees, performers, or partners.”