As national debates over civil rights continue, local governments are showing how those commitments take shape in practice. Antidiscrimination policies affect how people experience daily life, from applying for housing to finding a job to accessing public services.
Recent actions in cities and counties across the country highlight how protections are being strengthened in some places and rolled back in others.
In Washington state, two local governments are moving to expand protections. King County’s Council is weighing an ordinance this week to create a single definition of protected classes while expanding coverage to include family caregiver status, military and veteran status, and citizenship or immigration status. The measure is designed to eliminate inconsistencies across the code, align with state and federal protections, and strengthen enforcement in housing, employment, contracting, and public services. In Bellingham, the City Council unanimously adopted a new ordinance in July affirming equal access to city services regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The ordinance consolidates existing policies into a clear and enforceable framework.
In Pennsylvania, Delaware County is preparing to adopt the first LGBTQ-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance among Philadelphia’s surrounding counties. The proposal would extend protections to sexual orientation and gender identity while creating a Human Relations Commission to investigate complaints, mediate disputes, and issue corrective actions.
Other jurisdictions are moving in the opposite direction. In Arlington, Texas, the City Council voted 6-2 last week in an initial decision to suspend its local anti-discrimination ordinance and revise the mission of its Unity Council. Officials framed the move as necessary to preserve $65 million in federal funding. The change would remove explicit protections for LGBTQ residents, people with disabilities, and racial minorities, replacing them with language that does not name specific groups. At the state level, West Virginia’s Senate passed legislation to nullify local nondiscrimination ordinances and redefine sex and gender in ways that limit rights for transgender and nonbinary residents. The measure stalled in the House.
These juxtaposing developments demonstrate how quickly progress can move in either direction. Local governments can expand protections by codifying and clarifying equity commitments, or see them undone through political or financial pressures. Equity is not static, and it requires ongoing attention from governments, employers, and communities to ensure protections keep pace with changing needs.