Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Christian extremists, the city of Houston voted against equal protection for LGBTQ citizens, as well as more than a dozen other minority groups, yesterday.
That’s right, folks. Antigay activists have won the battle in convincing voters to reject HERO, the city’s proposed non-discrimination ordinance.
Related: Matt Bomer, Michael Sam: Vote YES on Prop 1, Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
HERO would have protected LGBTQ people from being discriminated against in matters of employment and housing. But instead, extremists made their argument about men using women’s restrooms, dubbing it the “bathroom bill.”
The ordinance was originally passed 11 to 6 by the Houston city council, and was signed into law by the city’s openly lesbian mayor, Annise Parker. But a gang of antigay Christian extremists quickly banded together to campaign for the measure to be put up for a popular vote, then they got busy misleading voters with ridiculous posters like this one:
Despite having the support of Houston’s business community plus celebrities like Michael Sam and Matt Bomer, as well as both President Obama and 2016 Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, the “bathroom fear” tactic ended up working. HERO failed 62 to 38 percent.
“I will give full credit to the pastors and the antigay organizers here in Houston,” Mayor Parker told Rolling Stone after the ordinance was voted down yesterday. “They played it masterfully.”
But it’s not just LGBTQ people who are left vulnerable because of HERO’s rejection by voters. The ordinance also protected people against discrimination based on sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, genetic information and pregnancy.
Related: Trans Women Using Women’s Bathrooms Is “Filthy,” “Disgusting” Say Texas Republicans
Jimmy Gee
Jebus be praised!
Michael Martinez
Every person who was “too busy” to go and vote handed the bigots a victory. It is their fault. The blame should be laid at their feet. Bigots are bigots without shame. You can’t fault them for voting their convictions while those who “knew better” stayed home and did nothing.
Terry Morrison
Shame….
Sidney Davies
AtticusBennett
congratulations to the bigoted people of houston for allowing transphobic lies to trump common sense, logic, empirical evidence, compassion, empathy and human decency.
you can be proud of yourselves for doing this while your children get fatter and fatter and your city continues to experience appalling levels of gun violence.
Cody Erwin-Spring
PIGS
Justin Weeks
It’s a two way street if they can hate on us we can hate on them! And there’s a lot more to hate about them
Luis H. Lopez
Isis celebrates with the Christian NAZI terrorist !
Stephen Meeks
Haters going to hate
Severn H Kirchem
This will end up with the Supreme Court, like all measures the Taliban Christians overturn…
timucua
Voter turnout was only 26.9% of the electorate. Note a clear mandate.
Giancarlo85
The American Nazi Party is alive and well. These extremists would do well at Stormfront. This is a mockery of democracy. This result should be invalidated.
WHere are all the gay repuggers like Alistooge and BJ? Willing to sell us even more to the morally bankrupt republican party? They’ll do anything to lie to people.
The turn-out was appallingly bad. Republicans don’t want people to vote. They love low voter turn-out. If it was up to them only christian f*a*s*cists could vote.
What a ridiculous result!
Marshall R. Krug
freaks!
Jack Kear
I think it is more accurate to say ¨antitrans.¨
Brian Szuberwood
Jesus wept.
Rocco Vader
TEXAS…once again on the wrong side of history…
Patrick Laney
There is a reason the country sends its toxic waste to Houston to be deep well injected into the ground… Soon you will all be sterile.
Carlos Rodriguez
That is so fucked up… how can the called themselves christians? Somebody should should tell them that they are way to be christian.
Changeagent
Phrasing the Lord for keeping hate alive. After the SCOTUS marriage equality decision, I thought there would be a decade of backlash.
Michael Jarboe
American Taliban
Erica Jade Worthington
LGBT folks predate the bible! Maybe we need to remind these fundamentalists that we were here first!
Denis Camacho
Really sad how much hate they haveð???
1EqualityUSA
it sure rained hard there.
Shane Rogers-Mauro
Gagging.
Matthew Munson
The mayor provoked the pastors by demanding copies of their sermons which did not help things much.
Will Glitzern
You know it’s bad when there’s a class of people who aren’t free to go to the bathroom.
Don Hanover
what a surprise, bigots vote to stay bigotsâ?¦
Glücklich
@Giancarlo85:
@timucua:
My first thought was of the turn-out but these non-presidential years only ever seem to bring out the old white evangelicals.
The results are really so disappointing. Disappointment by the bill’s failure goes without saying but it does Houston’s reputation no good, either. Not everyone there is a raging bigot and it’s not like it’s some backward place. Granted, I only go about once a year for a few days at a time but I’ve always enjoyed visiting. It’s such a huge city it’s easy to steer clear of the churchies and meet the types who would support such a bill.
Better luck next time.
Masc Pride
But…but Matt Bomer told everyone to vote yes.
@Michael Martinez: Agreed. The people crying foul now obviously weren’t outraged enough to get out and vote. They were probably online commiserating and bitching about homophobia and missed a chance to actually do something about it.
Jbaltes
The greater lesson to be learned here is that we can take nothing for granted and we must realize that maintaining our rights will take constant vigilance and advocacy. A lauds not change peoples’ minds—we will not influence how people think and feel without constant positive “storytelling,” providing examples of LGBT people with whom people can relate, and encouraging our LGBT friends to come out—the more folks can identify with “real people,” the more likely we are to be able to push back against the hate mongers. However, sitting back and assuming “someone else” will do it will lead to more of these “victories” like Houston!
Jim Guinnessey
These crazed Texas fundamentalist Christians are no better than the thugs and murderers within the rank and file of the Islamist militants who make up ISIL! Texas seems to manufacture these assholes at a geometric rate.
davenbill
Texas, the land of queers and sterns Aren’t there FEDERAL laws against discrimination of various groups? How can a bunch of nitwits write laws contrary to those that already exist? Why not just say you can discriminate against anyone for any reason at any given time?
1EqualityUSA
Just like in California with the Prop H8 and Maine’s “1,” the fall-out usually energizes progressives. Not to worry. Texas will be dazzling in a few years…in a rugged sort of way. Please pass the barbecue sauce. Nice shirt, flannel?
Leonard Woodrow
Seems like education passed Houston by! 🙁
Erik Ehm
So this could work the other way. A business could choose not to hire married, straight, evangelical Christians, and it would be perfectly legal.
TimberWolf
Shame on the people in Houston for supporting the hateful and cruel fake false Christians who spread hate and use the bible for preaching hate into america. This is a ridiculous poll turn out proving most of Houston population are lazy and ignorant. Again failure to do the right thing for all american people
Erik Ehm
I love how this country has become one big game of “Scare the Christian Idiots to move your agenda forward”.
Scott Mitchell
And these faux-Christians fail to realize that they aren’t really Christians. But let someone discriminate against them and there comes the next holy war!
Bob Pattinson
This is extremely worrying. Perhaps it’s time for the minorities to abandon Houston to the bigots.
Maude
Common Sense should tell everybody EVERYBODY that including the ‘right’ for everybody and anybody to use any bathroom they wanted to, would kill the bill.
If that ‘right’ were left off, the bill would have been passed, and we would have gained considerable ground. But no, the ding-bats that write these bills, and the ding bats that approve them were/are mindless twits.
Maude
@Matthew Munson:
Excellent point made.
Michael Haynes
i live for the day that this will happen to them, I hope it comes soon they are so deserving of having every freedom they enjoy stripped away from their christian hands
Giancarlo85
@Glücklich: Houston is like the rest of Texas… some people talk a lot but never get out to vote and Texas is the result. California used to be like that… decades ago.
@Masc Pride: Wow that’s interesting. I didn’t realize as a CALIFORNIA VOTER, that I could vote in Texas. You really are cowardly in your attacks.
Merlin Magicks
I agree no equality no business and that means all businesses not just a few make an example out of them
Greg
This news made my stomach churn. The same thing happened repeatedly when state after state passed anti-gay-marriage bills. Thankfully, that is now in the past, but now here’s the start of a new and worrisome trend. I challenge anyone to find one person who voted against this bill who does not identify as a christian.
I am so glad that I rejected religion at a reasonably young age. More people need to do this.
Patrick Crawford
Hypocrites all of them
Charles Meyerson
Just another reason not to visit this backward state!
Doug
I grew up in Houston, Texas for seven years and it was the worst part of my childhood. You couldn’t pay me enough to live there now. The silver lining in all this is that people in Houston are so arrogant about their city being the best that they never leave there. If they did they’d probably be skewered for their narrow-minded views. It’s just a speck on the USA map, and they can easily be ignored.
Jorge Albertto
Christian Extremists probably are feeling so much pride to have so much hate in This city.
Houston should change its name to Hateston
Kevin J Desmond
Oh yes lets rejoice in hating others just like Jesus said … christians are nothing but a bunch of fucken assholes, and this is yet another reason why I hate the church !!!!!!
TampaBayTed
This is the same bugaboo that Philass Schafely brought up when the ERA was looking to become an amendment to the Constitution. Guess what, there is no ERA in the constitution. The lesbian and gay men movers and shakers decided to link the LBG cause with the transgendered people, one which really made the bigots heads spin. The anti-toilet people had a creepy ad which showed a man “posing” as transgendered luring a little girl into the women’s room (I believe that the gist of it) and driving the public wild. Maybe the actor who was in this creepy PSA should have been arrested for some crime against a child even though it was “acted.” I believe the LBG community leaders made a tactical error in the linkup. A bit too much too soon.
Giancarlo85
@TampaBayTed: What is the “LBG” Community” Can we stop making up acronyms. You subscribe to same fear as the anti-gay people about trans people. Stop being transphobic.
Jonathan Nelson
They actually demonstrate the exact opposite of Jesus’ teachings and example, which makes THEM Antichrist.
revjshoregoss
It will Backfire for now one can discriminiate against ultra conservative bigoted christians…ask what church someone goes to before renting, serving or even wishing them a good day
captainburrito
@Matthew Munson: There was a legitimate reason for that. But in the age of low information voters who read only headlines that reason became propaganda and even some gay people do not know the details.
But it does link into the defeat in Houston. The opposition used the bathroom talking point to scaremonger people just like prop 8 used talking points to scaremonger the people we needed. Our side did not have a clear message to counter that allay these fears. Had they done that then it likely would have made it closer at least. As it stands it will probably take a decade or 2 of work to reverse.
Dietrich Delaçroix
“We’re assholes rejoice!”
Daniepwils
Most of the city is not rejoicing I can tell you that. The voter turn out was horrible at best. What won yesterday was fear mongering and scare tactics, nothing more.
I voted, as did many others, but not enough people did, and that is the sad thing.
They released voting data today and the main areas of the city (Houston proper) all voted in support of this ordinance. It was the outer lying areas of the city that voted against it.
The City of Houston has been very blue for a long time, but sometimes that isn’t enough to sway the outer areas of the city….
So sad….Houston is a very tolerable city, I have lived here my entire life (spent summers in Europe where my father lives as well) and I have never been mistreated for being gay, NOT ONCE. Please don’t just us all by a very few who voted, and voted against this.
Maxie Grant
I want to walk up to these people and snap in their faces WHAT exactly did I do to YOU? See if they still have that haughty, ARROGANT pride then!
Randy Judd
It was because of the “bathroom” issue, otherwise it would have been normal voter turn out
Brian
A lot of women voted against this non-discrimination bill. Women don’t want “transgenders” entering their rest rooms. If gay-identifying guys don’t want to realize this, it just proves how stupid the gay rights movement has become.
It also proves the folly of tying male homosexuality to the personality issues of men who feel that they are women. Such a connection will be disastrous to the cause of male homosexuality.
If gay-identifying men don’t dissociate themselves from the personality issues of men who want to be thought of as women, there will be huge collateral damage to the gay rights cause.
CWM85
Houston has a problem alright. A bigoted problem. I certainly call for a boycott of whole city for this extreme act of pure intolerance and bigotry! Everyone affected should boycott and refuse to do business with this city that obviously encourages discrimination. What a sick sad day.
Errol Semple
Bigots rejoice.
Arcamenel
I blame the poor voter turnout and groups like HRC not doing more to fight against the “men in women’s restroom” transphobic rhetoric. It’s prop 8 all over again. They und r estimated the fear tactic.
Mark Lee
Religion = hate
Glücklich
@Daniepwils:
Count me among those who do not condemn the entire city of Houston.
Tony Chaplinski
and christians can be so loving and forgiving, if it’s according to their rules and their timing
Londale Foster
The Americans will never allow boy/man to use the men/girls Bathroom…
Brian
Many liberal women voted against the bill. They don’t want men-dressed-as-women entering their rest rooms.
The fact that there are gay-identifying men who fail to empathize with the vast majority of women on this issue is further proof that gay-identifying men have lost the plot.
Hoyt Havel
notice that the most homophobic idiots out there are the most un-sexually appealing people and that none of us want them in the first place.
Tony Lee Churchill
It’ll never stick but hey, whatever gets ’em off…
Markusfittt
Amen! God is GOOD! NO MEN in Womens restrooms!
billeetee
Looking back…Nero had the right idea after all!
tjport1980
Has anyone else noticed that most of the horrible stories are preceded by the words ” Texas ” or ” The Catholic Church ” ?
Daniel-Reader
Silver linings: First, 38 percent of Houston residents weren’t fooled by the hatemongering. So congratulations needs to go to those educated, thoughtful individuals. Second, those 38 percent of Houston residents (and everyone else) now know who the top human rights violators are from this pyrrhic campaign.
alanh1249
Honestly, Is it just me or is the human race armed with religion poisoned by prejudice and absolutely frantic with hatred and fear galloping pell-mell back to the dark ages?
Who on earth is hurt by a little girl or boy or adult being gay??
dwbyers1960
Thank God for common sense. Being gay is nothing more than mental illness.
alanh1249
@Markusfittt:
Another idiot who didn’t read tbebill
alanh1249
@Markusfittt:
Another idiot who didn’t read the bill
dwbyers1960
@Daniel-Reader: Daniel go fuck yourself…that’s what you do best.
Kathukid
I still say let Texas secede and become a fundamental Christian theocracy. Then all the crazies in the country can go live there. Those who don’t want any part of it will be welcome in blue states. Require them to have an entry visa to visit the rest of the country.
Baba Booey Fafa Fooey
What is the “no men in women’s bathrooms” about?
dwbyers1960
@Maxie Grant: let’s all pray that you can’t reproduce.
Giancarlo85
@Brian: Identifying? do you identify as someone who is always wrong? First off, many liberal women did not vote. Houston is one of the most conservative cities in Texas. This bill would have passed in Austin or Dallas.
Maybe you should stop lying to your teeth.
@dwbyers1960: It’s obvious you’re just an peanut brain troll that is on a gay website. Take your offensive and disgustingly ignorant remarks somewhere else.
Giancarlo85
@dwbyers1960: You can’t reproduce because of impotence. Moving right along.
dwbyers1960
@Daniepwils: They should recall that fucking whore who is the Mayor.
beachcomberT
@Brian:
Apparently a lot of gays have to learn the facts of life. Just like sexual preference, gender identity is on a spectrum. Nothing is black and white. Biological men who think of themselves as women, and dress and act as women, should be allowed to use women’s rest rooms. What is so hard to understand about that. Why would you want them to use the men’s room?
1EqualityUSA
“galloping pell-mell back to the dark ages” is so, so much fun.
Giancarlo85
@beachcomberT: Awesome little troll! What is sexual “preference?” A choice right?
Why do these bigots come to a gay website to troll?
And learn the difference between trans people and crossdressing. This is something difficult for the right wing mind to comprehend.
Giancarlo85
Wow. In other developed countries unisex bathrooms are common. In America, it’s against jesus. Maybe you should keep jesus out of government. Mixing religion and state in Europe led to the inquisition.
Douglas Schlitz
False Christians ,bigotry is ugly as are these jerks !
GTT
Brian,
I would have agreed with you re: transgendered people 10 years ago – but I don’t now because I am more educated about transgenderism.
Gay people’s brains are physiologically different from their straight counterparts’ – the portion that determines sexual and romantic attraction.
Call it a biological glitch if you want.
Same goes for transgender people – their brains are biologically a different gender than their bodies. It is NOT psychological or personality – IT IS BIOLOGICAL or scientific.
That is a fundamental and crucial difference that you refuse to accept as indicated in your numerous posts.
1EqualityUSA
We should build a wall, starting in New Mexico, across Oklahoma, and down Louisiana way! Hillary, get on it.
TomMc
How am I not surprised that the “ladies” in that pic who rallied against this are pooches?
Dan Steele
This bill says men cannot enter the woman’s restroom and visa versa. I do not see the problem with this being rejected. Men belong in the men’s restroom and women in the womens.
GTT
Religion makes people stupid.
The culture of the bible belt makes people stupid.
The concept of sexual orientation and transgenderism requires thought and analysis and a questioning of one’s prejudices.
Next question.
Giancarlo85
How have we failed so miserably?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhANTymDIYk
We have an entire political party going in a direction of absolute violence and political oppression.
We give a pass to those who are building their lives on the shattered dreams of others (to paraphrase Bobby Kennedy).
Markusfittt
The gays here have the highest HIV rates….thinning themselves out…. 🙂
Markusfittt
@alanh1249: another hiv infected ‘Mo.
Giancarlo85
@Markusfittt: Yet another flagged bigot.
Cielo Perdomo
Fucking stupid morons. Can’t wait until their generation all dies off.
jag4313
It really is a shame being from Houston. I have always thought of Houston being one of the more progressive of cities in this state. Unfortunately I was wrong.
The Anti-H.E.R.O. ad was quite convincing even though it was full of lies. I am so disappointed of this city.
jag4313
I want to start seeing all Transmen with beards walk into a women’s restroom and just tell them “You wanted it this way”
Glücklich
@Markusfittt:
Let me guess: The idiocy displayed in your comment is a symptom of advanced syphilis. Well, I shouldn’t mock the neurologically compromised so to simplify it for you, your brain has ouchies because you put your dang-dang into a dirty ol’ cooter.
Giancarlo85
@Glücklich: LOL.
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/ff/ffbfdc6923a68b92587a739afc9e89a29ccf841d68876a980c30cc91db678e5e.jpg
(Just a relevant meme, NOT a virus)
westsideed
And these bigots call themselves Christians???? They are nothing but bottom-feeders and scum. They are liars and will do and say anything to get their way. “Just not lest you be judged.”
joe
i am hoping someone can explain this trans stuff to me. i’m being serious i really dont understand this issue well. so for purpose of this discussion, lets say a male wants to transition to a female, does this mean he has to have the surgery, and take hormones to transition, then legally (meaning what ever appropriate legalities are required to change their status to a female) change to a female? OR can any male simply dress like a female, and decide them self (with no surgery, no hormones or legal changes) that they can just use the female bathroom when they personally wish to do so/ in other words what is the burden of proof that a male is now really a female with respect to using the female bathrooms? is it simply the male can dress as a female “feel” female at that time and use the male posted bathroom? i was yelled off another site asking this, i just am trying to figure this out I’M SERIOUS i DO NOT mmean to offend anyone with my question, thank you
joe
correction* in my second to the last sentence i meant to say ” is it simply the male can dress as a female “feel” female at that time and use the FEMALE posted bathroom
heath0043
@dwbyers1960: You and God aren’t protected any more either. If you read the bill the protection of religion was part of it….now who is laughing all you religious bigots.
Glücklich
@joe:
Seems like a valid inquiry but one for which the answers would be too nuanced for me to venture a guess.
Check around on-line and to see if there are sites where people who are transitioning can give you some knowledgeable answers because I’m sure the answers are as varied as those who are in transition.
Riverhog
The Trans Community needs to be removed from the LBG Community. They have no place in the LBG Community and when ever they are mention in a ballet we loose BIG TIME. Time for the LBG Community to start working for our on people and let the Trans do the same and not be part of the LBG Community.
1EqualityUSA
Our community is strong enough to bear the burden of our brothers and sisters held in the death grip of hatred and bigotry. LGBT is ok with me. Every time we have a squeaker decision coming down, pants-shitters start throwing T’s off of the life raft. The Tedious Right sees no difference between us, we’re all freaks in their stern eyes. The trans community came out in force and helped during the AIDS crisis and we should not leave them behind on the battlefield, even if it takes a while longer to negotiate our equality. Hold steady, hold true.
notcisjustmale
In the midst of all this gay and lesbian Houstonians are yet again denied equal protection. Trans* whatever that means is already covered under sexual discrimination law. So called Trans* legal theory is simply an effort to codify sexual stereotypes into law.
Alistair Wiseman
HERO allows men to freely enter and use women’s bathrooms, locker rooms and showers, which HERO proponents do not deny.
If HERO were enacted, a woman or girl complaining about a man using a woman’s locker room, shower and/or bathroom could be legally prosecuted for “discrimination.” Advocating women-only and men-only facilities would be considered discriminatory. Advocating against non co-ed facilities in order to ensure privacy and protection, especially for minors, would be considered “discriminatory.”
As much as parts of HERO were good policy, it went too far. It is a hard sell for biological women to let biological men shower in the same space.
What is equal about women and children potentially being harassed, abused, or violated and also considered a less legally protected people group than those among the LGBTQ community? Protections for all people are already specified under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Even more important is the reality that HERO detracts from Houston’s leaders addressing its multi-faceted, profoundly immense crises. Houston is an epicenter for violent crime, drug and human trafficking, human rights abuses, terrorist training, and even a recent pledge of allegiance to ISIS.
Yet, Mayor Parker remains focused on bathrooms.
babyowl66
How very christian of you all. I never realized that christians embraced and condoned hate….And you wonder why so many aren’t christians…..you people are the epitome of that.
silveroracle
Once again religion rears its ugly head.
Louis
These peoples attitudes would make Hitler proud .
Hateful losers.
Brian
@beachcomberT: There is no such thing as a spectrum of sex. You are either a man or woman. In very rare exceptions, you might be a hermaphrodite.
Those who equate feelings to reality are completely wrong here. Just because you feel you are a woman does not make you one. Simple as that.
Ummmm Yeah
Yet again transgenders have cost us rights.
GayEGO
Don’t the ladies rooms have stalls with doors on them? The people of Houston need to be educated in general about LGBTs as living like the straights and are not a threat to anyone. Back in the day, people were taught that LGBTs were monsters hiding in the bushes in the parks, molesting children. Of course civilization has learned that was false and most people are moving on to support the LGBTs. Apparently Houston has too many people that have not learned and evolved with civilization.
nickvanallen
@Scott Mitchell: RIGHT!! TFOH
nickvanallen
THIS SHIT IS JUST DISGUSTING
charlieeod74
No surprise here, typical christian Texas turd biter reaction, Jeebus be praised
Giancarlo85
@Alistair Wiseman: This is such a gross misinterpretation of the facts. Would you imagine a gay conservative defending bigotry and outright lies? Not surprising in the least.
What about a muscular manly transman? Do you want her entering a woman’s bathroom? That’s how stupid your argument is. It’s all based on logical error and fallacy.
“What is equal about women and children potentially being harassed, abused, or violated and also considered a less legally protected people group than those among the LGBTQ community? ”
Bullshit. This has never happened in other states that allow it, and not even in other countries where unisex bathrooms are quite common. What you post is just a gross distortion of reality and fear based on illogic and hatred.
Fear mongering doesn’t make an argument. You should know that by now. Nobody is accepting your illogical turds of posts.
Alistair Wiseman
@Giancarlo85:
I am so touched that my posts mean so much to you, that you follow me around like a little puppy dog.
However, you made a big proclamation here on Queerty and so far you have failed to keep your word. When are you going to practice what you have written and not respond to “trolls”?
To refresh your memory, you stated:
“I am no longer responding to certain trolls because they cannot handle criticism and flag posts if they are challenged. The trolls in question are not capable of a logical, reasoned discussion based on evidence and sources… so they resort to censorship. The trolls in question are a waste of time to engage as they are not willing to discuss anything.”
dwes09
@Alistair Wiseman:
“Alistair Wiseman Alistair Wiseman
@Giancarlo85:
I am so touched that my posts mean so much to you, that you follow me around like a little puppy dog.”
His criticisms of your post are correct, regardless of whether or not he is following you around. Your air of superiority is ill founded, considering the weakness of your argument and (as demonstrated) you intellect.
judith
Many churches, including those in Houston, are now emboldened to take a tougher stance against those whom they see as immoral. Here’s a blatant example of one church, which has hundreds of congregations, including one in Houston, which now actively seeks out LGBT people and “disciplines” them. What can you do about it? Nothing, as far as I can tell, it’s a church so don’t bother wasting your time unless you know something I don’t. https://archive.org/details/richard-ames-discipline-homosexuals-aug-12-2015