From the InBox:
For Immediate Release Press Release
Contacts: Jonathan Saenz, Cell: 512-879-7995, Office: 512-478-2220 jsaenz@txvaluesaction.org
Effort To Repeal Houston’s LGBT & Transsexual Bathroom Law Enters Final Week
Houston, TX, June 20, 2014 – An important effort is underway to repeal the recently passed Houston LGBT Ordinance through a referendum process. The dangerous ordinance is a threat to religious liberty of every Houstonian and is a threat to the public safety of women and children by allowing men to use women’s restrooms. The ordinance will force private business owners to violate their conscience on matters of faith and could be used to prosecute churches as well.
“If you care about religious liberty and the safety of women and children, you must get involved immediately with this repeal effort in Houston,” said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values Action. “I was born and raised in Houston, and I know Houstonians do not support this ill-advised law and have the courage needed to repeal it. The time to act is now,” said Saenz.
This process allows Houston voters to directly repeal an ordinance passed by the City Council, if an adequate number of qualified signatures are received within the deadline of 30 days after it takes effect or is published. The city council must then either repeal the ordinance or place the measure on the next city election ballot for the vote of the people. A simple majority prevails and if achieved the ordinance is repealed.
A coalition of church leaders and organizations has launched a website at NoUNequalRights.com that has full details on this effort. In short, at least 17,000 signatures by REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON must be collected by Friday, June 27 for the referendum process to move forward. Over 115,000 emails and thousands of calls by Texas Values Action supporters were received by Houston City Council in opposition to Mayor Parker’s LGBT ‘special rights’ ordinance. Reports from council members themselves were that the calls ran from 4 to 1 to as high as 10 to 1 against the ordinance.
With only one week left until the deadline, it is critically important for every church in Harris County to help. Learn how churches can participate in the referendum petition here.
TAKE ACTION: Download the “No UNequal Rights” petition and instructions and help protect Houston.
About Texas Values
Texas Values is a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.
I also received a press release from former Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill about the petition. Various groups are working hard to obtain the necessary signatures and I wouldn’t bet against them pulling it off.
Assuming it gets on the November ballot, it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Republicans have had a difficult time in City of Houston elections for the past decade. The organizers of the petition drive are doing this independently from the HCRP and new Chair Paul Simpson, who has been very quiet on the issue. I think that he did send out one email opposing the ordinance shortly before the council vote but he hasn’t been a leader against it, which is certainly the direction his supporters wanted him to take the party, away from these types of issues and towards get out the vote organization. If Simpson and the official party apparatus do not support it, I don’t see how the ballot initiative has a chance of passing. If that is the case, with infighting amongst Republicans, it may even affect the Republican ticket as a whole, with moderates refusing to vote straight ticket. And if that happens, what happens to the down ballot judicial and county administration races?