Texas Suit Threatens LGBTQ+ Bias Laws: States of Play

Nov. 18, 2025, 7:35 PM UTC

DALLAS’ LGBTQ+ ANTI-BIAS ORDINANCES face elimination by a lawsuit brought under a sweeping Texas preemption law that could fuel a movement across states to undercut local legal protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.

  • Three Dallas residents are asking a court to declare void almost a hundred ordinances, including one banning bias against LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, housing, and public accommodations. The suit seems to be the first such case under the state’s 2023 preemption statute—nicknamed the “Death Star” by critics—that lets private plaintiffs challenge local laws.
  • Local nondiscrimination ordinances often provide explicit bans on bias based on sexual orientation ...

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