In Houston on Nov. 3, residents rejected an equal-rights ordinance by a wide margin.
Conservative opponents of the law claimed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO)—which would have incorporated sexual orientation and gender identity as well as 13 classes already under federal protection, including sex, race and religion—would allow men dressed as women, including sexual predators, to enter women's restrooms.
City Council passed the law 11-6 in May last year; however, conservative foes launched an effort to force a repeal referendum that spanned more than one year of legal challenges, Chron.com noted.
Supporters of HERO ranged from lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker to actress Sally Field. Lambda Legal released a statement saying, in part, "We knew this vote would be an uphill battle, and we witnessed the opponents of HERO pull out all the stops, launching a campaign full of distortions and fear-mongering designed to mislead and confuse voters."
In a separate statement, American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union National Political Director Karin Johanson said, "The work in Houston must continue until everyone is protected from discrimination. Houston continues to be the only major American city without a law protecting its residents from discrimination. ... A strong local coalition will continue to work to end discrimination against all Houstonians and the ACLU will support them."
According to a Media Matters for America release, Fox News contributor Erick Erickson praised HERO's defeat by calling transgender individuals "perverts, the mentally ill [and] liars."
From Lambda Legal Nov. 3, 2015
"Sadly, the ugly and divisive tactics succeeded in persuading a majority of Houstonians to vote no on HERO. But we have faced disappointments before that did not stop us - this fight for fairness is far from over."
(Houston, TX, November 3, 2015) — Today, Houston voters went to the polls and rejected the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), defeating a citywide ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodation on the basis of race, age, gender, pregnancy, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or military status. Kenneth D. Upton Jr., Senior Counsel in Lambda Legal's South Central Regional Office in Dallas, and Lambda Legal Dallas-based Community Educator Omar Narvaez issued the following statements after results of the election were announced:
"We knew this vote would be an uphill battle, and we witnessed the opponents of HERO pull out all the stops, launching a campaign full of distortions and fear-mongering designed to mislead and confuse voters," Upton said. "But we also saw an impressive coming together of the Houston business, faith and civic communities in Houston Unites, which campaigned tirelessly in support of HERO and for ensuring that all Houstonians can live their lives and provide for their families without fear of discrimination. Sadly, the ugly and divisive tactics of the opponents of HERO succeeded in persuading a majority of Houstonians to vote no. But we have faced disappointments before that did not stop us - this fight for fairness is far from over."
"Working on the ground in Houston, especially in the days leading up to Tuesday's vote, I witnessed firsthand the passion and dedication of everyone at Houston Unites," Narvaez said. "This loss is tough to take, and the hatred and misinformation that was spread about people who are transgender, in particular, was unconscionable. I am proud to have been part of this grassroots effort and truly believe that we will be back and that full and equal protections for all Houstonians will be achieved in the near future."
Today's vote came in response to a Texas Supreme Court ruling this past July ordering the Houston City Council either to repeal HERO, which it adopted last year, or place it on the November ballot. Lambda Legal joined with other advocacy organizations in Houston Unites, a coalition of dozens of advocacy organizations and businesses formed in the immediate aftermath of the Texas Supreme Court ruling to campaign in favor of HERO. Leading corporations also endorsed the ordinance, including Apple, Dow Chemical, General Electric and Hewlett Packard.
From National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund Nov. 3, 2015:
HOUSTON, TX, November 3, 2015—Preliminary election results show that a majority of voters in Houston have repealed the city's ordinance that extends non-discrimination protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) people—among 13 other protected classes including race, religion, sex, color, age, ethnicity, disability, national origin, marital status, military status, genetic information, pregnancy, and family status. In May 2014, the city council approved Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance ( HERO ), but enforcement of that law was placed on hold pending the outcome of today's vote. The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund worked to prevent the ordinances from being repealed by joining the Houston Unites campaign and providing on the ground support as well as technical assistance.
"As a proud Texan, Reverend, and black gay man, I am deeply disappointed with the outcome of today's election—yet we are not defeated. Leading up to the election, we were joined by a strong and broad coalition of business owners, faith leaders, civil rights leaders, and elected officials, who worked hard to ensure that all Houstonians are protected against discrimination. We spoke with hundreds of voters who believe that everyone—regardless of their gender identify or sexual orientation—deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. While the road to justice is long, we will redouble our efforts to secure full freedom, justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) people."
The National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund works to secure full freedom, justice and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer ( LGBTQ ) people. For over forty years, we have been at the forefront of the social justice movement by training thousands of organizers and advocating for change at the federal, state, and local level. www.thetaskforceactionfund.org .
From American Civil Liberties Union Nov. 4, 2015:
NEW YORK — Houston voters last night failed to affirm an ordinance that would have secured much-needed protections from discrimination for the people of the fourth largest city in the country.
The measure, Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which appeared on the ballot on Election Day, fell short of a majority vote. The ordinance would have prohibited discrimination in places of employment, city contracting, housing, public accommodations and private employment at businesses on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, and pregnancy.
From American Civil Liberties Union American Civil Liberties Union National Political Director Karin Johanson:
"The work in Houston must continue until everyone is protected from discrimination. Houston continues to be the only major American city without a law protecting its residents from discrimination. As a result, the only protection Houstonians have is a costly federal lawsuit. In the case of LGBT Houstonians there are no explicit protections at the federal or state level. A strong local coalition will continue to work to end discrimination against all Houstonians and the ACLU will support them."
From ACLU of Texas Executive Director Terri Burke:
"It's a tragedy that Houston remains the only major city in Texas—indeed, the last big city in the United States—that does not extend equal rights protections to all of its residents and visitors. Those of us who have worked to bring equality to Houston will continue the fight to ensure that everyone can live fairly and equally under the law. The next mayor and newly elected members of Houston's city council must prioritize the passage of a new equal rights ordinance as quickly as possible."
From Interfaith Alliance, Nov. 3, 2015
WASHINGTON — Following today's vote on the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, legislation that would protect all Houstonians from discrimination on the basis of marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and several other characteristics, Rabbi Jack Moline released the following statement:
"Today's vote against the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance is a loss but it is not defeat. The Constitution was not on the ballot in Houston today, and people's fundamental rights are never up for a vote. We at Interfaith Alliance maintain that discrimination on the basis sexual orientation and gender identity, and the use of religious ideology to limit a person's rights, is a clear violation of the Constitution and its promise of religious freedom.
"The Religious Right has distorted the truth behind this law, and non-discrimination laws across the country, for too long. We need not choose between real religious freedom and equality for all Americans. Indeed, it is just the opposite: all of our rights are strengthened when we ban discrimination against a particular class of people, all our rights threatened when we wield the Constitution as a weapon for hatred and bigotry.
"Today's loss in Houston proves once again the need for swift federal action to protect the rights of all Americans. One's freedom to work and freedom to worship should never be dependent on where one lives."
