Houston voters reject measure to protect LGBT residents, 13 other groups

Houston Mayor Annise Parker (D) lost a big vote on an anti-discrimination measure
(Image credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

On Tuesday, voters in Houston rejected an ordinance that would have extended legal protections to gay and transgender residents, as well as prohibiting discrimination based on race, age, and 11 other classes. Proponents, including Mayor Annise Parker (D), had said the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) was similar to laws in 17 states and more than 200 cities, and would cement the inclusive reputation of America's fourth-largest city, as well as one of its most diverse. Opponents had a simpler message, characterized in the slogan "No Men in Women's Bathrooms." The opponents won, 61 percent to 39 percent, with 96 percent of precincts counted.

The Houston City Council had passed in the anti-discrimination ordinance in May 2014, but a coalition of socially conservative groups fought it, winning the right to hold a referendum in a case that went up to the Texas Supreme Court. Both sides poured millions of dollars into the campaign, but it appeared to be the transgender issue that propelled the opponents to victory. In one TV ad, former Houston Astros star Lance Berkman said voters should vote against the measure because it would allow "troubled men who claim to be women" to enter women's restrooms. (The ordinance said nothing about whether transgender women could use women's restrooms.)

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.