XPost: sac.general, alt.california, alt.homosexual
XPost: houston.general
Houston voters struck down a non-discrimination ballot measure
Tuesday, delivering a blow to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender rights movement that had campaigned heavily for
passage.
Prop. 1, known as Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance, would have
barred discrimination on the basis of race, age, military
status, disability and 11 other categories in a variety of
areas. (Religious organizations and institutions would be exempt
from the requirements.)
It was HERO's protections on the basis of sexual orientation and
gender identity, however, that attracted the most attention and
made the ballot measure the center of the LGBT community's
efforts this election.
The Houston City Council narrowly approved the equal rights
ordinance last year, but after a petition drive by anti-gay
activists, the Texas Supreme Court ordered the city in July to
either repeal it or put it on the November ballot -- giving each
side just a few months to make their case.
A long list of local and national figures publicly came out in
support of Prop. 1, including President Barack Obama and
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The measure
also had the backing of companies like Apple and GE, as well as
local businesses that wanted to avoid a backlash similar to what
Indiana experienced when Gov. Mike Pence (R) signed an anti-gay
"religious freedom" law earlier this year.
But these heavy hitters weren't able to get past the catchy,
fear-mongering slogans and images used by their opponents.
Conservative activists -- who were heavily outspent by LGBT
advocates -- dubbed Prop. 1 the "bathroom ordinance" and adopted
the slogan "No men in women's bathrooms," playing up fears that
passage could lead to male sexual predators dressing up as women
and entering women's restrooms.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/houston-equal-rights- ordinance_5638de92e4b00a4d2e0bee4e
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