PRESS RELEASE: Wilmington City Council Passes Ordinance to Explicitly Protect Gender Identity Under City Law

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Wilmington City Council Passes Ordinance to Explicitly Protect Gender Identity Under City Law
To read Ordinance 25-074​, visit the link here.

Wilmington, DE – At its Regular City Council Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026, Wilmington City Council voted to approve Ordinance 25-074, sponsored by Councilwoman Zanthia Oliver, formally amending Chapter 35 of the Wilmington City Code to explicitly include gender identity as a protected class under the City’s Human Rights provisions.

The passage of Ordinance 25-074 represents a significant step forward in strengthening local civil rights protections and ensuring that all Wilmington residents are afforded dignity, safety, and equal treatment under the law. By codifying gender identity protections at the municipal level, City Council reaffirmed its commitment to combating discrimination and aligning local law with existing state protections.

“Wilmington is a city that leads with values,” said Councilwoman Oliver. “No one should be discriminated against, committing suicide, or feeling unwanted or depressed because of their sexual gender choices.”

The ordinance updates Chapter 35 to:

• Explicitly add gender identity to the list of protected classes in bias-related offenses and anti-discrimination provisions
• Strengthen protections in housing, employment, public accommodations, city contracting, and grant-making
• Require the collection and reporting of bias-related data involving gender identity
• Align Wilmington’s definition of sexual orientation with recent updates to Delaware law, including the inclusion of asexuality and pansexuality

These updates build upon Delaware’s Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Act of 2013 and reflect the City’s ongoing efforts to ensure its laws remain current, inclusive, and responsive to the lived realities of its residents.

Once enacted, Ordinance 25-074 will take effect immediately, reinforcing City of Wilmington’s commitment to equality, fairness, and the protection of human rights for all who live, work, and visit the city.

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MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Yesenia Taveras
Director of Communications, Wilmington City Council
Office: (302)576-2585
Mobile: (302)757-5748
Email: ytaveras@wilmingtonde.gov
City Council Website: www.wilmingtoncitycouncil.com