Texas pastor claims anti-discrimination law is ‘the most dangerous ever’
A Texas pastor has claimed that an anti-discrimination law in Houston could be the most dangerous thing to ever happen.
The city has faced a protracted battle over the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance – which provides basic protections for LGBT workers.
Right-wing Christians last year waged an aggressive campaign last year to block the planned LGBT equality law.
Ahead of a ballot on the law set to take place in November, activists are again scaremongering about the law.
Speaking at a congregations of pastors, Dr Floyd Williams Sr of Antioch Church said: “I believe HERO is the most dangerous thing that’s ever been orchestrated in the city of Houston.”
Pastor Steve Riggle with Grace Community Church said: “The mayor we have now obviously did not care what Houstonian’s thought this was about her.”
However, a poll from the Houston Association of Realtors found that the law will likely survive the planned ballot. 52 percent of people support HERO – while 37 percent oppose it, and 10 percent are undecided.
Last July, anti-equality activists submitted boxes of around 31,000 signatures to block a planned LGBT equality law in the city – above the threshold of 17,269 required to send it to a public vote.
Legal action was sparked over allegations that a lot of the signatures were fake – after Houston City Attorney Dave Feldman announced that so many were invalid that the petition was well below the threshold.
However, the public ballot was triggered after the Texas Supreme Court intervened.
