City Anti-Discrimination Ordinance information

On Nov. 10, 2015, the Dallas City Council voted unanimously to amend the City’s existing anti-discrimination ordinance.

This City Council vote did not change the scope of the City’s 13-year-old anti-discrimination ordinance.  The ordinance amendments are consistent with existing city policies and a recent vote by Dallas citizens.

In 2002, the city of Dallas approved an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which was defined to include gender identity.

In March 2014, the Dallas City Council passed a resolution stating that the city is in full favor of equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees of the city of Dallas, citizens within the city of Dallas, and visitors to the city of Dallas.

In September 2014, the city’s personnel rules were amended to separately define sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

In November 2014, Dallas citizens voted overwhelmingly to approve a city charter amendment to prohibit discrimination on the basis of “sexual orientation,” as well as “gender identity and expression.”

While the City’s 2002 LGBT anti-discrimination ordinance already prohibited discrimination based on perceived gender identity, it was amended Tuesday to separately define sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to be consistent with the city’s personnel rules and the city charter.

“Tuesday’s action by the Dallas City Council is consistent with what voters approved last year,” said Mayor Mike Rawlings.