A proposed equal rights ordinance in Houston has failed by a wide margin. The ordinance had similar language to anti-discrimination laws in place in most other major cities. But gay rights opponents were able to defeat it by falsely claiming it would allow sexual predators to roam freely in women’s bathrooms.
Some 61 percent of voters voted against the measure, which was worded this way:
“Are you in favor of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, Ord. No. 2014-530, which prohibits discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual’s sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy?”
About 39 percent of voters were in favor of the measure, which, as you can see, is not about letting rapists and child molesters into the ladies room. But groups like the anti-gay, anti-trans Campaign for Houston made it just that: a claim that failing to discriminate against trans people is the same as giving them free reign to molest people. Here’s the charming ad they ran, trumpeting, “Protect women’s privacy. Prevent danger.”
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
