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Houston Mayor Annise D. Parker had backed the ordinance. (Photo: Pat Sullivan/Associated Press)
In Blow for Transgender Rights, Houston Voters Reject Non-Discrimination Law
Ordinance would have protected against discrimination on basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, and more
Nov 04, 2015
A years-long struggle for civil rights was dealt a major blow Tuesday when Houston, Texas voters rejected an ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, country of origin, and numerous other characteristics.
Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which appeared on the ballot as Proposition 1, was rejected by a vote of 61 percent to 39 percent, with 95 percent of the ballots counted.
By banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the proposal would have secured rights not protected under federal laws. HERO would have applied to workplaces, city contracting, housing, and public accommodation--but not religious institutions.
Religious conservatives launched an aggressive and hate-speech-filled campaign against the measure by stoking fears and prejudice against transgender people. In particular, they spread the widely-debunked myth that nondiscrimination protections would threaten the safety of women in restrooms. Such falsehoods have been repeatedly employed to block anti-discrimination protections nationwide, including the federal Equal Rights Amendment.
"It's a tragedy that Houston remains the only major city in Texas--indeed, the last big city in the United States--that does not extend equal rights protections to all of its residents and visitors," said Terri Burke, executive director of ACLU Texas, in a statement following the vote. The proposal was also supported by Equality Texas and the city's mayor.
The bill also had the strong backing of prominent African-American organizations, including the Houston chapters of the NAACP and Urban League, who noted that discrimination against black people--from businesses to housing--remains a deep problem in the city.
"Those of us who have worked to bring equality to Houston will continue the fight to ensure that everyone can live fairly and equally under the law," Burke continued. "The next mayor and newly elected members of Houston's city council must prioritize the passage of a new equal rights ordinance as quickly as possible."
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
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Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare is web editor at In These Times. She is a former Staff Writer at Common Dreams. She comes from a background in independent journalism for publications including The Intercept, The Nation, and Tom Dispatch.
A years-long struggle for civil rights was dealt a major blow Tuesday when Houston, Texas voters rejected an ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, country of origin, and numerous other characteristics.
Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which appeared on the ballot as Proposition 1, was rejected by a vote of 61 percent to 39 percent, with 95 percent of the ballots counted.
By banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the proposal would have secured rights not protected under federal laws. HERO would have applied to workplaces, city contracting, housing, and public accommodation--but not religious institutions.
Religious conservatives launched an aggressive and hate-speech-filled campaign against the measure by stoking fears and prejudice against transgender people. In particular, they spread the widely-debunked myth that nondiscrimination protections would threaten the safety of women in restrooms. Such falsehoods have been repeatedly employed to block anti-discrimination protections nationwide, including the federal Equal Rights Amendment.
"It's a tragedy that Houston remains the only major city in Texas--indeed, the last big city in the United States--that does not extend equal rights protections to all of its residents and visitors," said Terri Burke, executive director of ACLU Texas, in a statement following the vote. The proposal was also supported by Equality Texas and the city's mayor.
The bill also had the strong backing of prominent African-American organizations, including the Houston chapters of the NAACP and Urban League, who noted that discrimination against black people--from businesses to housing--remains a deep problem in the city.
"Those of us who have worked to bring equality to Houston will continue the fight to ensure that everyone can live fairly and equally under the law," Burke continued. "The next mayor and newly elected members of Houston's city council must prioritize the passage of a new equal rights ordinance as quickly as possible."
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare is web editor at In These Times. She is a former Staff Writer at Common Dreams. She comes from a background in independent journalism for publications including The Intercept, The Nation, and Tom Dispatch.
A years-long struggle for civil rights was dealt a major blow Tuesday when Houston, Texas voters rejected an ordinance that would have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, country of origin, and numerous other characteristics.
Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), which appeared on the ballot as Proposition 1, was rejected by a vote of 61 percent to 39 percent, with 95 percent of the ballots counted.
By banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, the proposal would have secured rights not protected under federal laws. HERO would have applied to workplaces, city contracting, housing, and public accommodation--but not religious institutions.
Religious conservatives launched an aggressive and hate-speech-filled campaign against the measure by stoking fears and prejudice against transgender people. In particular, they spread the widely-debunked myth that nondiscrimination protections would threaten the safety of women in restrooms. Such falsehoods have been repeatedly employed to block anti-discrimination protections nationwide, including the federal Equal Rights Amendment.
"It's a tragedy that Houston remains the only major city in Texas--indeed, the last big city in the United States--that does not extend equal rights protections to all of its residents and visitors," said Terri Burke, executive director of ACLU Texas, in a statement following the vote. The proposal was also supported by Equality Texas and the city's mayor.
The bill also had the strong backing of prominent African-American organizations, including the Houston chapters of the NAACP and Urban League, who noted that discrimination against black people--from businesses to housing--remains a deep problem in the city.
"Those of us who have worked to bring equality to Houston will continue the fight to ensure that everyone can live fairly and equally under the law," Burke continued. "The next mayor and newly elected members of Houston's city council must prioritize the passage of a new equal rights ordinance as quickly as possible."
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LATEST NEWS
'Enough Is Enough': Dems Aim to Force GOP on Record as Trump Tariffs Wreak Havoc
"Republicans can't keep ducking the vote on these taxes," said Rep. Gregory Meeks. "It is time they take a vote and show their constituents whether or not they support the 'economic pain' President Trump is inflicting."
Apr 09, 2025
Congressional Democrats—and a small but growing number of Republicans—are throwing their support behind last-ditch legislative efforts to wrest tariff authority from U.S. President Donald Trump as he unilaterally plunges the nation into a full-blown global trade war, with potentially catastrophic consequences for workers, businesses, and the worldwide economy.
"Enough is enough," Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said Tuesday, accusing the president of "driving our economy into recession, killing jobs, and wiping out seniors' retirement funds as we speak."
Wyden and several other senators—including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a lone Republican, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)—introduced a privileged resolution Tuesday that would terminate the national emergency that Trump declared last week to impose sweeping tariffs on countries across the globe, including major U.S. allies and trading partners.
"Donald Trump's reckless agenda will hurt American families, small businesses, and manufacturers," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a co-sponsor of the resolution. "The Trump tariffs are economic sabotage, and Congress has the power to stop them. Republicans can join Democrats and end this today."
House Democrats, led by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), are pursuing a similar resolution.
"Republicans can't keep ducking the vote on these taxes," Meeks and other leading House Democrats said in a statement Tuesday. "It is time they take a vote and show their constituents whether or not they support the 'economic pain' President Trump is inflicting on American families."
"This is a self-own, a crisis dictated by one authoritarian with a ridiculous way of seeing the world."
Under GOP control, Congress has effectively ceded the power of the purse to the Trump administration, allowing it to unlawfully withhold approved spending and rush ahead with what's been described as the largest tax hike in U.S. history.
But in recent days, facing increasingly furious backlash across American society—including billionaire hedge fund managers, retirees, and small business owners who fear they may have to close their doors—some Republicans have expressed support for legislative efforts to rein in Trump's ability to impose tariffs without congressional approval.
The Hill reported Tuesday that at least seven Senate Republicans have signed on to a bipartisan bill that would place limits on presidential tariff authority, including a provision under which any new tariff would lapse after 60 days if not approved by Congress.
Additionally, according to Axios, "at least a dozen House Republicans are considering signing onto Rep. Don Bacon's (R-Neb.) bill to restrict the White House's ability to impose tariffs unilaterally."
Thus far, though, not enough Republicans have publicly backed the legislative push to rein in Trump, who has threatened to veto the bipartisan Senate legislation.
The growing legislative push to slow or reverse Trump's tariff spree comes as China announced Wednesday that it is slapping U.S. goods with an 84% duty in retaliation for the president's decision to dramatically hike tariffs on imports from the world's second-largest economy.
Tariffs on Chinese imports to the U.S. now total at least 104%.
"The U.S. approach of upgrading tariffs on China is wrong, seriously violating China's legitimate rights and interests, and seriously undermining the rules-based multilateral trading system," China's Finance Ministry said in a statement Wednesday.
The American Prospect's David Dayen wrote Wednesday that China's retaliation makes "clear that at least with respect to the world's largest manufacturer, a trade war is far more likely."
"It's important to note that a reversal of course on tariffs would mitigate a lot of the damage, which is why Congress putting on the pressure for that reversal is important," Dayen added. "This is a self-own, a crisis dictated by one authoritarian with a ridiculous way of seeing the world. But Trump's policies were driving the country into a ditch since Inauguration Day, setting the stage for the fear and doubt we're seeing right now."
Judge to Trump DHS: Justify Deporting Khalil or 'I'm Going to Terminate This Case'
An immigration judge in Louisiana said she will end the case on Friday if the government does not provide sufficient evidence against him.
Apr 09, 2025
The Trump administration has explicitly admitted that former student protester Mahmoud Khalil is not accused of breaking any laws, but the White House now has until 5:00 pm on Wednesday to provide evidence that the Columbia University graduate should be deported, following a judge's order late Tuesday.
Judge Jamee Comans in Jena, Louisiana, where Khalil has been detained at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility for nearly a month since being abducted by ICE agents in an unmarked vehicle, said at a hearing that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) "either can provide sufficient evidence or not," adding that she plans to rule on whether Khalil should be released on Friday.
"If he's not removable, I'm going to terminate this case," said Comans.
Khalil's lawyer, Mark Van Der Hout, said he has spent weeks requesting evidence that Khalil is guilty of the allegations against him, which do not include committing any crimes—typically a condition for revoking someone's green card or permanent residency.
A lawyer for DHS told the judge the government has "evidence we will submit," but it was not clear why no evidence has been provided since Khalil was detained on March 8 by the ICE agents, who accosted him and his pregnant wife, a U.S. citizen, at their apartment building on Columbia property.
"We cannot plead until we know the specific allegations," said Van Der Hout at the hearing, which was attended virtually by about 600 supporters and members of the media.
The Trump administration has cited a law that allows the government to deport noncitizens if their presence in the U.S. has "potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States." Nearly 300 international students have had their visas revoked in recent days—with the government giving no explanation in many cases—and some universities have begun advising students not to speak out about Palestinian rights or Israel's U.S.-backed military operation in Gaza.
The government first accused Khalil of being "aligned with Hamas" and a threat to U.S. security—allegations for which officials did not provide evidence. In an interview with NPR in March, Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar refused to back up his claim that Khalil supported or promoted "terrorist activity" and equated his participation in pro-Palestinian protests with terrorism.
Officials now claim Khalil failed to state on his application that he previously worked for the Syria office of the British embassy in Beirut, and that he was an unpaid intern with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), a humanitarian aid agency that provides services to the occupied Palestinian territories.
Van Der Hout told Comans that he has "not received a single document" backing up any of the allegations.
The lawyer also asked the judge to postpone the hearing for Friday, saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio should give a deposition in Khalil's case. Rubio launched the "catch and revoke" program under which the government aims to revoke the visas of foreign nationals who appear to be "pro-Hamas."
Comans denied that request but agreed with Van Der Hout's demand that the government prove Khalil should be deported, or else release him from custody.
"I'm like you, Mr. Van Der Hout," said Comans. "I'd like to see the evidence."
Trump Signs 'Breathlessly Stupid' Orders to Boost Polluting Coal Industry
"Coal is a disaster for our health, our wallets, and the planet," said one environmental lawyer.
Apr 09, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed multiple executive orders that aim to boost the coal industry, a move that critics denounced as "reckless" and "breathlessly stupid" even before the orders were officially unveiled.
Among the orders signed Tuesday, Trump directed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum to acknowledge the end of a moratorium that had halted new coal leasing on public lands and to prioritize coal leasing and related activities, and also directed U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright to determine whether coal used in steel production can be considered a "critical material." According to Reuters, permitting this classification would pave the way for the administration to use emergency powers to boost production.
Trump also paused environmental regulation imposed under former President Joe Biden that applied to certain coal-burning power plants thereby purportedly "safeguarding the nation's energy grid and security, and saving coal plants from closure."
Additionally, one order directed the "Energy Department to develop a process for using emergency powers to prevent unprofitable coal plants from shutting down in order to avert power outages," according to The New York Times, a move that may face court challenges.
Jill Tauber, vice president of litigation for climate and energy at the green group Earthjustice, said Tuesday: "Coal is a disaster for our health, our wallets, and the planet. President Trump's efforts to rescue failing coal plants and open our lands to destructive mining is another in a series of actions that sacrifices American lives for fossil fuel industry profit. Instead of investing in pollution, we should be leading the way on clean energy."
"The only way to prop up coal is to deny reality, and the reality is that people no longer rely on coal because it's expensive, unreliable, and devastating to public health," said Julie McNamara, an associate policy director with the Union of Concerned Scientists, in a statement on Tuesday.
"Instead of supporting the economy-boosting clean energy transition that maintains widespread public support across the country, President Trump is relentlessly attempting to tear it down."
Trump has vowed to support what he calls "beautiful, clean coal," though the industry has been in decline for years. Coal-fired electricity generation has dropped from 38.5% of the country's generation mix in 2014 to 14.7% in 2024, according to a 2025 factbook from BloombergNEF and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. Coal is also the dirtiest fossil fuel.
The executive order builds on previous moves by the Trump administration. Last month, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an effort to rollback a host of EPA regulations, including some that will impact coal producers.
On the first day of his second term, Trump declared a "national energy emergency" intended to help deliver on his campaign pledge to "drill, baby, drill." That emergency defined energy to include oil, natural gas, uranium, coal, biofuels, geothermal, flowing water, and critical minerals—but it omitted solar and wind.
Reporting earlier Tuesday indicated that Trump would sign an order invoking presidential emergency authority to force coal-fired power plants to stay open.
In a statement released in response to that reporting, Tyson Slocum, energy program director at the watchdog Public Citizen, said: "Reviving or extending coal to power data centers would force working families to subsidize polluting coal on behalf of Big Tech billionaires and despoil our nation's public lands."
"Coal kills. In the last two decades, nearly half a million Americans have died from exposure to coal pollution," said Ben Jealous, executive director of the environmental organization the Sierra Club in a statement on earlier on Tuesday, also in response to reports that executive orders were forthcoming.
In another move that generated swift criticism, Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate state policies that are aimed at confronting the climate crisis and to take action to stop enforcement of those laws.
According to The Washington Post, it is unclear what authority would the agency would rely on. The order specifically calls out state climate superfund laws in New York and Vermont.
"President Trump's executive order weaponizes the Justice Department against states that dare to make polluters pay for climate damage," said Cassidy DiPaola, communications director of Make Polluters Pay—a campaign to build public support for climate litigation—in a statement on Wednesday.
"This is the fossil fuel industry's desperation on full display—they're so afraid of facing evidence of their deception in court that they've convinced the president to launch a federal assault on state sovereignty. We are watching corporate capture of government unfold in real time," DiPaola added.
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