Houston Mayor Annise Parker on Monday
introduced a proposed ordinance which seeks to prohibit
discrimination in the workplace, housing and public accommodations on
the basis of several factors including sexual orientation and gender
identity.
Parker's Equal Rights Ordinance
proposes steep fines for businesses found guilty of discriminating
against someone based on race, religion or sexual orientation.
Houston City Councilman Michael Kubosh
criticized the proposal, saying that it was “really about the gay
community.”
“[The mayor is] gonna have to come
out and tell the people what this is really about,” Kubosh
told Fox 26.
Parker, who is openly gay, responded:
“I've already heard it said this is an ordinance specifically for
the gay community. That is in fact not the case.”
A vote on the measure is expected to
take place sometime in the first week of May.