-Houston’s LGBT ‘Bathroom Ordinance’ Defeated

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The citizens of Houston, Texas were finally allowed to vote on the transgender ‘bathroom ordinance’ which had been forced upon the city by the mayor and the city counsel. The referendum, which the mayor originally tried to stop, was not even close with controversial ordinance going down in complete defeat. Here’s the story from Breitbart News:

A coalition that represents hundreds of pastors who opposed Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s pro-LGBT ordinance, are calling the resounding defeat of the Houston bathroom ordinance, a “national victory” and the local defeat of a national Leftist LGBT agenda.

Voters in Houston came out in massive numbers and soundly rejected Mayor Parker’s ordinance proposal that would have allowed men to enter women’s bathrooms, showers and changing areas based on gender identification. The HERO (Houston Equal Rights Ordinance) proposition was rejected by a vote of 61 to 39 percent.

Read the whole article>

Response: It is great that the citizens were finally able to have their voice heard on this law. Religious liberty was the real issue at stake in this vote. Last year Mayor Parker issued subpoenas to a number of pastors who opposed the ordinance ordering them to turn over all notes or recordings of any sermons or teachings against homosexuality and the bill. When religious pastors and leaders led a successful petition campaign to order a recall vote on the bill, the Mayor refused to recognize the recall and put it up for a vote until it was forced by the state Supreme Court. 

The left characterized the ordinance as an LGBT ‘equal rights’ issue but in reality the ordinance was a dangerous law that would have compromised religious freedom by forcing churches and religious institutions to provide for transgender bathroom use and possible compliance to hiring provisions. Also, it would have forced Christian businesses to participate in same-sex ceremonies regardless of religious convictions.               *Top

The following are our past articles on this issue:

-Texas Supreme Court: Houston Must Put Controversial ‘Transgender Bathroom’ Bill Up for Vote

-Houston: Mayor Withdraw Subpoenas on Pastors

-Response to Houston’s Demand of Pastor’s Sermon’s from ‘Bonhoeffer’ Author

-Houston Backs Down On Subpoenas for Pastors’ Sermons? Sort of But Not Quite

-City of Houston Subpoenas Pastor’s Sermons on Homosexuality

-Houston: Activists Publish Names On Petition Against Transgender Bathroom Ordinance

-UPDATE: Judge Puts Houston Transgender Bathroom Ordinance On Hold

-UPDATE: Houston Mayor Disregards Call for Referendum on Transgender Bathroom Ordinance

-Houston: A Referendum Against the Transgender/Anti-Religious Freedom Ordinance

-UPDATE: Houston Passes Transgender ‘Special Rights’ Ordinance

-Transgender Restroom Choice the Next Big ‘Rights’ Issue?