RELEASE: Arlington Trans Vote Sparks National Controversy

Austin, TX – December 8, 2025: The Arlington City Council is preparing tomorrow to take a controversial vote on whether to reinstate a transgender ordinance in direct conflict with newly enacted state law as well as directives from the Trump administration and federal government policy.

National attention continues to build on the City of Arlington with this issue. Leigh Ann O’Neill, Chief Legal Officer at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) posted on her personal X account about the issue, calling it a “bizarre move” and asking why the City of Arlington would “risk lawsuits, state penalties, and jeopardizing its $16M federal World Cup support just to push a gender-identity mandate that directly conflicts with Texas law and federal directives? What is going on here?!?” While made on her personal account, it is notable due to AFPI’s close ties to the Trump Administration. The post amplified Arlington’s positioning of itself in defiance of federal directives.

Texas Values recommended that Arlington City Council remove the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” from the ordinance in order to comply with federal directives, as well as newly enacted state law such as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act (S.B. 8) which went into effect last week.  Arlington City Council members Raul Gonzalez, Mauricio Galante, Long Pham, and Bowie Hogg are in favor of removing the gender ideology definitions.

Texas Values policy team will be at the meeting and available for comment. To schedule an interview, please email Ashley at media@txvalues.org or 737-314-2450 (m).  

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About Texas Values

Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.