Houston voters on Tuesday repealed the
city's ordinance that extends non-discrimination protections to
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
(HERO) prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public
accommodations based on more than a dozen characteristics including
race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Opponents of the law forced it onto
Tuesday's ballot.
The defeat of Proposition 1 makes
Houston the largest city in the United States without LGBT
protections.
The campaign to keep HERO, Houston
Unites, said it was disappointed with Tuesday's outcome but vowed to
continue the fight.
“We are disappointed with today's
outcome, but our work to secure nondiscrimination protections for all
hardworking Houstonians will continue,” the group said in a
statement.
“No one should have to live with the
specter of discrimination hanging over them. Everyone should have
the freedom to work hard, earn a descent living and provide for
themselves and their families,” Houston Unites added.