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Houston's Voters Make a Stand, Sending the LGBT Bathroom Bill Down the Tubes

News Staff : Nov 4, 2015
CBN News

"Houston has become a rallying cry for Americans tired of seeing their freedoms trampled in a politically correct stampede to redefine marriage and sexuality. Houstonians sent a message heard across the country: They will not allow the government to flush away their money, and more importantly, their values and religious liberties." -Tony Perkins

(Houston, TX)—Voters in Houston have soundly rejected an LGBT ordinance that would have trampled on religious liberty and allowed men in women's bathrooms. (Screengrab via KHOU.com)

It's a big blow for gay rights activists who spent millions and earned endorsements from companies like Apple and presidential candidates like Hillary Clinton. The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance was nicknamed HERO. It would have, among other things, allowed people with various sexual identities to use whatever bathroom of the sex they identified themselves as—regardless of their biological sex.

Opponents worried it could put women and children at risk. Pastors and their churches across the city fought the measure out of that concern and because of other language in the measure.

They say the way the law was written, the city could fine and even imprison violators who did not make certain public accommodations.

Dave Welch with the Houston Area Pastors Council said it did not include strong protections for people of faith; to protect them if those public accommodations conflicted with their Biblical values. He said that was one reason Christians rallied against it. He also told CBN News that it really came down to standing for God's truth about sexuality.

Those supporting and voting for it included Houston's lesbian mayor Annise Parker.

She and others argued it was a necessary nondiscrimination ordinance to protect the LGBT community.