Category Archives: Houston

Houston, Houston Politics, Texas Politics

Voting 101: We’re Registered… Now VOTE!!

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The official state numbers are in, and they’re not lying:  more Texas residents are registered to vote in 2014 than ever before in the state’s history, as confirmed by Secretary of State Nandita Berry. This shatters previous totals, including those experienced in recent Presidential elections. Here’s more from the Houston Chronicle…

More than 14 millions Texans have registered to vote in the November elections, the secretary of state’s office announced Thursday, calling the number a record high.

The total marks an increase of 2.8 percent since the most recent presidential contest and 5.7 percent since the last time candidates for governor were on the ballot.

More attention than usual is being paid to voter registration this year. Groups such as Battleground Texas have been working to “expand the electorate” to make the state competitive for Democrats.

Oct. 6 was the last day to register to vote. Early voting begins Monday for the elections on Nov. 4.

As written previously, the astonishing increase is due mostly to the hard work of groups like Battleground Texas, the Texas Organizing Project (TOP), Mi Familia Vota and Democratic Party affiliates.  With a statewide number reaching this high, there is no question that the voter registration strategy worked better than anyone expected.  With a huge crop of new and “unlikely” voters registered, statewide races are now well within reach by Wendy Davis, Leticia Van de Putte and other Democratic candidates.

Historic registration is important, but it won’t be an historic November 4th election unless we have historic turnout.  That means YOU must vote to make history happen.  Here’s what you need to know to get ready and vote… 

 

1) Vote Early!!  In person Early Voting runs from October 20th to October 31st.  Unlike voting on Election Day where you must show up at your designated precinct, for Early Voting you can go to any site within your county of registration.  You can visit your County Elections Website to find out information about Early Voting locations.  Seriously, this is the election where Texas can make history, but it we need YOUR VOTE to make it happen. Get it in early!

2) Spread the word!  This time, it really is different.  If you’ve never talked to your friends or family about voting before, 2014 is the time to start and get them engaged in the subject.  No matter the outcome, Texas government is going to experience significant changes as a result of this election.  Make your voice heard, and tell a friend!

3) Bring a Photo ID.  Despite what you may have heard in the last couple of days, an approved Photo ID will be required to vote for the 2014 elections.  Here is the list of acceptable forms of Photo ID.  If you’re a college or high school student, please note that you cannot vote with a student ID.  Make sure to bring these with you to vote.  With Texas’ stringent new voter ID now in full effect, it is more important than ever for those of us with an ID to exercise our right to vote.  We cannot overturn the law, or make it more sensible until the right politicians are elected to lead the change.

4) Volunteer.  Whatever you care about, this election is going to affect you in the future as a Texas resident.  If you have never volunteered to help a campaign before, please consider working a few shifts between now and Election Day.  This is when our time, talents and contributions matter the most.  If you support Wendy Davis and Leticia Van de Putte and would like to volunteer, check out Battleground Texas or the Texas Democratic Party  to get started.

 

The nation could be in for a real shocker on election night, but it cannot happen without your help.  This is your chance to be a definitive part of Texas history.  Don’t sit it out.

If you have any further questions about voting for your area, call the Texas Voter Hotline at 1-844-TXVOTES.

UPDATE:  For voters in Harris County, here is a special map of the Early Voting locations, including METRO local bus routes…

Early Voting With Bus Routes

 

 

VOTE!!!

Equality, Houston, Houston Politics

Houston Subpoenas Sermons From Anti-HERO Clergy

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In more big news about the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, the city is taking an interesting new turn in its case.  Here’s more on the perplexing news from Katherine Driessen of the Houston Chronicle…

Houston’s embattled equal rights ordinance took another legal turn this week when it surfaced that city attorneys, in an unusual step, subpoenaed sermons given by local pastors who oppose the law and are tied to the conservative Christian activists who have sued the city.

Opponents of the equal rights ordinance are hoping to force a repeal referendum when they get their day in court in January, claiming City Attorney David Feldman wrongly determined they had not gathered enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

City attorneys issued subpoenas last month as part of the case’s discovery phase, seeking, among other communications, “all speeches, presentations, or sermons related to HERO, the Petition, Mayor Annise Parker, homosexuality, or gender identity prepared by, delivered by, revised by, or approved by you or in your possession.”

The subpoenas were issued to pastors and religious leaders who have been vocal in opposing the ordinance: Dave Welch, Hernan Castano, Magda Hermida, Khanh Huynh and Steve Riggle. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal organization known for its role in defending same-sex marriage bans, filed a motion Monday on behalf of the pastors seeking to quash the subpoenas, and in a press announcement called it a “witch hunt.”

The city’s lawyers will face a high bar for proving the information in the sermons is essential to their case, said Charles Rhodes, a South Texas College of Law professor. The pastors are not named parties in the suit, and the “Church Autonomy Doctrine” offers fairly broad protections for internal church deliberations, he said.

When asked about the decision to subpoena the sermons in her weekly press conference, Mayor Parker immediately distanced herself from the decision, saying she knew nothing about it…

One word in a very long legal document which I know nothing about and would never have read, and I’m villified coast to coast… it’s a normal day at the office for me.  But you’re going to have to ask the City Attorney that question.

[…]

There’s no question that the wording was overly broad… It should be clarified and will be clarified.  People are rightly concerned if a government entity tries to inhibit, in any way, religious speech.  That is not the intent.

Attorney Feldman later responded, and basically echoed the Mayor’s words.  Both chalk it up to a document that they never read before issue, trusting pro bono lawyers not employed by the city to construct the subpoena.

This is what the Mayor said on Wednesday morning. But it seems in direct contradiction to what the Mayor tweeted on Tuesday night, saying the sermons are “fair game” and giving further fuel to the media firestorm…

https://twitter.com/AnniseParker/status/522238662033956866

One needs only to look at the process by which the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance was passed to see that both sides were treated with fairness and respect, even when they didn’t always deserve it.  So many in the news media seem to be rushing to the defense of the Houston Area Pastor Council, but failing to mention all of the lies and deceitful practices that they have carried out.  Just because these pastors claim to be men and women of the cloth does not mean that they are always doing God’s work.  They are the ones spreading hate and division, and deserve to be appropriately scrutinized for their actions.

But appropriate scrutiny can be well exercised without having to subpoena sermons shared with their congregations, as Feldman already stated in the press conference.  Much of that information has already been compiled by those working to protect the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, and does not need to be extended to direct sacred practices.

Many of the people feigning complete and total outrage against the Mayor are the ones that have hated her since day one.  That’s not going to change anytime soon.  But what can change is that the city makes sure that in its effort to defend the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, they do not isolate the many religious groups within the law’s broad community of support.  The subpoena was cause for legitimate concern, and now that Parker and Feldman have promised to redact the wording to exclude sermons, leave the issue where it is, and make sure that they correct it.  Just like in May, it’s time to practice dignity and common sense on both sides.

Texpatriate and Off the Kuff have more.

 

(photo credit:  Houston Chronicle)

Equality, Houston, Houston Politics

LGBT Discrimination in Houston Yellow Cab

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In a city as large and diverse as Houston, it’s pretty easy to get caught up in one’s own pace of life, and very easy to not be involved in local politics.  That is until local politics gets involved with you in the form of discrimination, malicious activity or an accident.  As ABC 13 reports, this is what happened to one couple enjoying a night on the town…

Travis Player and his partner, Andres Orozco, were dropped off Several blocks from their home in the Museum District recently.

“We thought he was joking until he actually pulled over,” Player said.

A cab ride home from F Bar took the fun out of Sunday Funday for them.

“We gave each other a kiss and he told us to get out of the car,” Player said.

The couple says a Yellow Cab driver kicked them out of his cab after the two started kissing, keeping it PG, in the back seat.

“The man just turns back to us and tells us that he doesn’t give gay people rides,” Orozco said. “And he proceeds to tell us we’re going to hell for being gay.”

In response to our questions, Yellow Cab sent us a statement:

“Yellow Cab immediately investigated this allegation of discrimination, including talking to the independent contractor driver. the driver stated that he would have taken the same actions if it was a man and a woman in the taxicab. Evidently, the driver was overly sensitive to passengers kissing. Yellow Cab does not have a policy about passengers showing affection in taxicabs. in fact, we encourage kissing in our taxicabs.”

“The sad reality is that it is completely legal,” said GLBT community advocate Noel Freeman.

Freeman says in the last six months, he’s heard 4 other similar stories: gay couples getting kicked out of Yellow Cab taxis, for being affectionate.

“There are no laws in the state of Texas that protect people from discrimination in public accommodations like cabs. So someone can be kicked out of a cab because they’re gay, black, because they’re a woman,” Freeman said.

The whole incident serves as a stark reminder why laws like the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance are so important.  Were the HERO law in effect today, people like Travis Player and Andres Orozco would have a direct local channel to file a complaint against that cab driver for discrimination within public accommodations.  Changing the law also decreases the incidents of discrimination because people know it’s against the law to discriminate, and they know that doing so could result in them being fined or losing their position.

Yet forces in the city of Houston are still fighting tooth and nail to destroy HERO, based on erroneous information.  For this couple’s sake, and all the other citizens of Houston, let’s hope they do not prevail.

This November, Annise Parker and none of the City Council members that passed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance are on the ballot.  But if you care about equality throughout the state of Texas, make sure to vote for pro-equality candidates like Leticia Van de Putte, Wendy Davis, David Rosen and others.  The only way to protect all Texans from discriminatory incidents like this one is to put people in office that care about ALL Texans.

 

 

Houston, Houston Politics, Politics, Texas Politics

Register to Vote… It’s Now or Never Texas!!

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In case you haven’t heard, October 6th is the deadline for Voter Registration in Texas.  That’s today!!!

And remember than in Texas, you have to keep your information current.  If you haven’t voted in a couple of years had a name change or a change of address, there’s a good chance that you need to register again. Visit the Voter Information Search to see if all of your voter info is current.

Now sometimes even a search at the Secretary of State’s website doesn’t yield a result.  If you think you should be registered, be sure to check with your County website as well.  For example, in Harris County, you can check with their voter registration search if nothing is found on the state website.

Ok so you found your name, you are registered, and everything is up to date??  Great!!!  Here’s you between now and EARLY Voting…

Voter Registration

 

But if you didn’t find your name, be sure to to print out a Voter Registration Application, fill it out real quick, and drop it in the mail before 5pm today.  If you miss the 5pm deadline, find one of your “political” friends… you know who I’m talking about… and ask them if they know a VDVR– Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar that lives in your county.  They may have Voter Registration forms with them, can help you register until midnight tonight, and will give you a receipt showing they accepted the form.  But either way, if you want to vote in the November 4th elections, you need to act today.

Yes, today!!!

voter reg

 

 

Equality, Houston

Houston Pride Festival, Parade Makes Surprise Move to Downtown

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Much to the surprise of Houston LGBT community leaders, next year’s annual Pride Festival and Parade will have a new location. Pride organizers announced the news yesterday at a press conference in Downtown.  Here’s the scoop from Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle…

The Houston LGBT Pride Celebration, after more than 30 years in Montrose, is moving downtown.

“Pride Houston has outgrown the space required to produce quality activities associated with the Houston LGBT Pride Celebration,” Pride Houston president Frankie Quijano said. “Downtown is already host to many successful annual festivals and parades. The downtown location also ensures greater access to parking, public transportation, hotels, emergency personnel and other facilities within walking distance of the celebration.”

At the press conference, Quijano also said that the changed was already approved by the Board of Pride Houston by a 7 to 1 vote.  Community leaders were shocked to find out about the changes, as it seems that no one was informed of this in advance of the Board vote.  Here’s more on that response, via News92FM…

Pride Houston said the decision to move the 2015 parade came because the event has gotten so big. On its website, Pride said downtown can accommodate more people, and has better parking.

But Jack Valinski, founder and former committee member of Pride Houston, said the move came as a surprise.

“I am not necessarily against the move, I am against the idea that they moved it without really talking to the community,” Valinksi said.

The website said committee members met with the Mayor Annise Parker’s office, with the Houston Police and fire department.

But Valinski said the committee did not meet with the LGBT community.

“This is where our heart is and this is where the center of our universe is, Montrose and Westheimer,” Valinksi said, “and the fact that they’re leaving that are without consideration of even talking to people is a real slap in the face to the community.”

Several aspects surrounding the announcement seem suspect as well. Pride Houston chooses this week to break the news knowing that Mayor Parker is on a trade mission in Asia, and therefore unavailable to share her insight on the community’s concerns.

If Pride Houston has indeed outgrown the neighborhood, it stands to reason that organizers want to institute a sound plan for its future.  Houstonians are incredibly supportive of the LGBT community, and want the Pride celebrations to continue to grow.  But having a vote with little public notice, followed by a stealth and sudden announcement was not the way to make those changes happen. Many Montrose businesses count on Pride festivities, not just for increased sales during that one week, but as critical promotion and advertising so that customers will come back throughout the year.  As a longtime partner in the area, Pride Houston had an obligation to work with community leaders and business professionals affected by the move, and should have done so before this decision came up for a vote. 

Even with those huge missteps, this will hopefully be a good move for the City of Houston.  No one can deny the special role that Montrose has played, and continues to play in national LGBT history, as well as the movement for equality.  Today GCAM, the Gulf Coast Archive and Museum of LGBT History, is actively working to establish a permanent museum site for these treasured stories.  Growing pains are being felt all over the Houston region, and Pride festivities are no exception to that swell.

Though the decision has already been made (and Pride Houston makes that very clear on their website), there will be a forum this Saturday to discuss the move and its various implications.  If you have comments, this is the place to share them with others, and have all community perspectives be heard.  Let’s hope that Pride Houston learns from their mistakes on this one.

 

Houston, Houston Politics, Texas Politics

Texans Together Calls For US Justice Investigation Of Greg Abbott

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All things considered in this high election season, many are quite surprised that the bombshell revelation that Attorney General Greg Abbott ordered an armed police raid of a Houston voter group has not received more attention from news media.  But the low profile of this case could soon be changing very quickly.

This is bold request from the advocacy group Texans Together, and it’s aimed squarely at Greg Abbott, and the Harris county Clerk’s office…

We recently made a formal, written request to the U.S. Justice Department to immediately investigate Texas and Harris County officials for voter suppression in Harris County (see letter here). We are asking for a federal investigation of not only the Texas Attorney General’s Office, but also Harris County election officials for their long history of impeding minority voter registration and voting.
We believe the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector should be investigated thoroughly for their many years of wrongful registration denials and delays as well as their incompetent processing of registration applicants. We also are seeking an investigation that the Justice Department look at the apparent politicization of the Harris County Clerk’s election administration.
As for the Texas Attorney General’s Office (AG), our letter points out that the AG falsely accused Houston Votes of “voter fraud” and effectively shut down our voter registration drive in 2010. The AG’s theory was that our voter registration drive was engaged in felony identity fraud, for simply keeping records of the people we registered to ensure that County authorities properly registered them and so that we could remind them to vote. No wonder after raiding us with six officers with guns and flak jackets, and investigating for 11 months, the AG dropped their oppressive investigation without ever notifying us. Under its absurd theory, every voter registration and turnout drive in the country would be a criminal enterprise.
Even after the original story was uncovered by the Dallas Morning News, no one had heard directly from those formerly with Houston Votes, and the whole issue never went any further than the original report (and a dedicated circle of bloggers, of course).  Off the Kuff, Neil Aquino and Dos Centavos were actively covering the Houston Votes saga when the first allegations were waged in 2010.

The whole reason for Abbott’s illegal, oppressive raid of Houston Votes in the first place?  Lies from the King Street Patriots, a Houston-area TEA Party group that also spawned True the Vote in 2012.  They claimed that Houston Votes had falsified thousands of voter registration documents.  After a lot of drama staged by True the Vote, no evidence was actually found, but Abbott and his TEA minions got what they wanted anyway… to silence minority voices in Harris County.

This needs to be a national story, and soon.  But for the moment, the best thing you can do is share posts like this one and let people know what’s going on.
Houston

‘Wings’ In Houston Sparks Interesting Arts Debate

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Few places in the city of Houston are more public, or more treasured than Discovery Green Park.  Though it’s one of the most recent public spaces created in Downtown, the park has quickly become a destination for residents, convention visitors and tourists.

But this month, Discovery Green  has also become the sight a brewing controversy over public art appropriateness.  Now through February 2015, the park is hosting the work of acclaimed Mexican artist Jorge Marín.  The exhibit, entitled Wings of the City, is a collection of nine sculptures which depict various aspects of the human body, including nudity.  Here’s more on that from Discovery Green’s website…

For over 25 years, Marín has presented his winged sculptures in more than 200 exhibits worldwide. Wings of the City had been viewed by more than one million people on Mexico’s Paseo de la Reforma before appearing at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts, and now at Discovery Green! The allegorical and fantastic creatures portray perfection of the human body, and spark dialogue around themes of desire, will and determination with the body and mind.

The images have left many Houstonians to wonder if such a public display of this work is appropriate.  The Houston Matters panel, consisting of myself, Charles Kuffner of Off the Kuff, local illustrator Maria Heg, and Houston Public Media’s Edel Howlin serving as moderator.   Like many across the city we had a lively discussion about the appropriateness of the artwork, and whether it should be displayed in forum such as Discovery Green.  Check out the segment below…

https://soundcloud.com/houstonmatters/alcohol-gun-sales-anatomically-correct-sculptures-the-good-bad-ugly-of-houston-news

Since the segment, I have had a chance to view Wings of the City, and must say that it is an excellent collection of works, made even more effective by strategic placements around the park.  Venue makes a difference in this context, and the art simply wouldn’t be the same if it were confined within a museum.  After viewing the work, you can count me in the group that has no problem with it.  But as KPRC Local 2 reports, there are still plenty of people, even after viewing, that do take issue.

What is your view about Wings of the City?  Should it be allowed at Discovery Green?  Let me know your opinion in the comments.