This week, Houston Unites launched its first radio ad in support of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), a measure to protect Houston residents and visitors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, reports Hayley Miller on the HRC Blog.
“As Christians, my wife and I believe in treating others the way we want to be treated, that’s what we’ve taught our children,” Rev. Dr. Will Reed, pastor at Servants of Christ United Methodist Church, says in the ad. “We’re hearing about HERO – Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, and concerns some have raised about privacy in public bathrooms. What’s being lost is that it’s ALREADY illegal to go into a bathroom to harm or harass someone. This law won’t change that.”
Earlier this month, the Houston City Council voted to send HERO to the ballot on November 3 as “Proposition 1.”
HERO protects people in employment, housing and business services on the basis of 15 different characteristics, including sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity and pregnancy.
“In most cases, without local protections, Houstonians literally have to make a federal case out of it to get legal help with discrimination,” Rev. Reed added. “That’s why we’re voting ‘yes’ on one, to keep Houston’s equal rights ordinance. We’re all God’s children and we should all be protected from discrimination.”
