FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Anna Núñez, Communications Coordinator, ACLU of Texas, 713-942-8146, ext. 110, [email protected]
HOUSTON – Major civil rights organizations are disappointed by the decision of some pastors and community leaders to continue their legal pursuit of the repeal of Houston’s equal rights ordinance. The coalition dedicated to the protection of LGBT equality and rights includes the ACLU of Texas, Equality Texas, the Human Rights Campaign and Texas Freedom Network.
Begun last July with illegally prepared and submitted repeal petitions, the group calling itself No Unequal Rights Coalition has put the city through an already unnecessary and costly legal fight. With the announcement of a yet another appeal, they are continuing to force taxpayer dollars to be used in a foolhardy quest to allow discrimination against their neighbors.
Marty Rouse, Human Rights Campaign National Field Director of the Human Rights Campaign:
“This decision will put Houston in the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons, and it could fundamentally risk its stature as one of the nation’s leading business and major event centers.”
Terri Burke, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas:
“Cities across the country have these laws without raising any problems. Houston should be a leader in ensuring our Constitution’s promise of religious liberty and equality live side by side. There is no tension between the two; one never usurps the other.”
Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network:
“Houston, the most culturally diverse city in the United States, should be at the forefront of providing anti-discrimination protections to all people. It is disheartening that this small fringe group is continuing to hold the city hostage with their bathroom bogeyman for what is fundamentally an argument born out of fear and hate.”
ACLU of Texas is a guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, the Legislature and Texas communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all in the Bill of Rights of our Constitution.
Equality Texas works to secure full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration.
The Human Rights Campaign is the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
The Texas Freedom Network is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization of religious and community leaders who support religious freedom, individual liberties and public schools.
