We Houston activists, public officials and TBLG leaders have been anxiously awaiting the release of the language in the proposed Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.The Mayor's Office finally released the initial draft of the Equal Rights Ordinance at 2:30 PM followed by a press conference in which Mayor Annise Parker answered questions about it.
http://www.houstontx.gov/ordinancefeedback/equalrights_ordinance.pdf
Got people analyzing it now. but on first glance the ERO prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It covers city and private employment, housing and has the public accommodations language the trans community wants in it.
Now comes the fight to pass it. It will take nine city council votes to pass in and finally add Houston to the long list of over 180 cities that have already done so. If we are successful in accomplishing that task, out job then becomes pivoting to successfully defending our hard won ERO from the misguided people on the wrong side of the moral arc of the universe. We have every confidence in H-town that we can and we will build the broad based coalition necessary to accomplish both tasks.
Houston is a world class city. It's way past time our human rights laws reflected that. The fight to make that happen begins today.
TransGriot Update: The City of Houston's Quality of Life Committee chaired by Councilmember Ellen Cohen, will be meeting on Wednesday, April 30th, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall (901 Bagby St). There will be discussion on the City's Equal Rights Ordinance, and public comments are accepted.
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