Tag Archives: Houston NDO

Stardig Against Equal Rights Ordinance

Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig has finally revealed how she plans to vote on the proposed Equal Rights ordinance. In a District A newsletter, here’s what she said about the proposed ordinance…

Thank you for your recent email about the proposed equal rights ordinance.  While most Houstonians and I agree that discrimination of any kind is wrong, this proposed ordinance does nothing more than duplicate existing laws, add bureaucracy, and highlight the city’s endless overstepping of their jurisdiction.

The real question is not whether or not someone should be discriminated against. The real question is: What is the proper role of municipal government?  Cities are created to provide basic services such as water, sewer, fire and police protection, and infrastructure.  Cities are not created to govern comprehensive issues like discrimination.  We have different levels of government for a reason, and it is imperative that each level does not exceed their jurisdiction.

If passed, this ordinance would create a new bureaucracy for the city to address discrimination complaints.  Houston would have to expand government to handle the same issues already funded for and overseen by the state and federal government.  It is incomprehensible to me how the city can waste our time and your tax dollars to duplicate these services.  There are still pot holes, road repairs, and additional police and fire needs to which your city tax dollars should be allocated.

Cities should stick to what they were created to do. I was elected to represent my district on city matters, and I will not stand for the city overstepping their authority.

Sincerely,

Brenda Stardig

Houston City Council Member, District A

It’s not exactly a surprise that Stardig would choose to vote against the ordinance.  After all, she did just reclaim her seat from Fringe-Right phenomenon Helena Brown. But of all the issues for Stardig to choose to prove her ‘Conservative’ bonafides, this is a choice that could ultimately come back to haunt her. Groups like the Log Cabin Republicans of Houston, which endorsed the Council Member and were some of her strongest supporters and campaign volunteers in the 2013 election against Brown, are reconsidering those actions now.  Here’s what the organization had to say in a press release…

The Log Cabin Republicans was shocked and saddened to hear about Council Member Stardig’s statement of opposition to the proposed Equal Rights Ordinance. The ordinance, which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, is a fair minded and solid proposal.

Council Member Stardig’s recent statement of opposition is based on the falsehood that these protections already exist in federal law. As it stands any Houstonian can be fired for no other reason than being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

It saddens us that despite receiving our endorsement, hearing the stories of those who have faced discrimination, and telling us that she did not believe in discrimination, Council Member Stardig has stood up for the right to discriminate.

We call on Council Member Stardig to reconsider her opposition which stands on the wrong side of history and equality.

Stardig’s decision may seem sensible in the short-term, but it’s a foregone conclusion that equality is supported by young adults across the political spectrum.  From ultra Liberal to staunch Conservative, they believe in the rights of anyone to be protected from discrimination, and have the same opportunities as anyone else.  As more Millennials become regular members of the voting citizenry, politicians should consider carefully how they treat these issues.  This will be a campaign issue for Brenda Stardig.

For more on this and other NDO developments, check out coverage from Texpatriate and Off the Kuff.

Stardig

(photo credit:  ABC 13)

Sides Weigh In on Houston NDO Debate

Back on October 3rd, I published the questionnaire response from Council Member Cohen, and she not only confirmed full support for the Non- Discrimination Ordinance, but gave valuable insight into how to move it through Council…

TL: With the exception of city government and some other select businesses, Houstonians can still be fired for being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender because we do not have a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for general employment. This lags behind other Texas cities such as Dallas, Austin, and Ft. Worth. Do you support a comprehensive non-discrimination ordinance for the city of Houston? If not, please explain why. If so, please explain how you would work to pass such a measure.

EC: I absolutely support a comprehensive non-discrimination measure a consider it to be a major civil rights priority. Demonstrating community support and dispelling misconceptions will be critical in getting such a measure passed.

Not sure whether that last statement is more politics or prophecy, but whichever the case, it’s certainly coming true. In the short time since the Ordinance’s public debut, declamatory shots have been fired by all sides. Here’s more on that from Mike Morris of the Houston Chronicle

The City Council is expected to discuss the measure at a committee hearing next week and to vote on the proposal next month, the mayor said.

Parker, the first openly gay mayor of a major American city, said she is aware most of the debate will focus on sexual orientation and gender identity – two groups not covered by federal law – but stressed that the proposal, Houston’s first nondiscrimination measure, is comprehensive.

“It has been surprising to me how many people in the African-American community I have heard from in recent months talking about still having problems getting equal access to the hottest clubs in the evening or restaurants, bars, music venues,” she said. “It gives the city of Houston an opportunity to weigh in and try to help smooth a path for those who want access to those facilities.”

Churches’ criticism

Dave Welch, of the Houston Area Pastor Council, said Parker is imposing onerous rules on businesses for a problem that does not exist.

“She is using anecdotal examples of discrimination, which may or may not occur, based on race and veterans’ situations as a front for her promises to ‘her people,’ as she described them in her inaugural address, the GLBT community,” he said. “It’s dishonest.”

Parker initially had talked of creating a human rights commission to hear complaints, but that idea was left out of the proposal announced Monday.

Contrary to what the article implies, not all churches are against equality. As Texas Leftist readers know, many faith-professing congregations around the Bayou City are proud to support this Non- Discrimination ordinance, and others like it. But from people like Dave Welch, this response was to be expected. After all, he and the Houston Area Pastor Council have led the charge against Parker since before she was even elected, and have opposed her every step of the way. In summation… Haters gonna HATE.

But if a couple of enraged pastors and irate bloggers is the best that the anti-equality side has, then this vote really should be a no-brainer for Council. And in case anyone needed a reminder, equality is not a right vs. left issue. Many Conservative Houstonians are willing to support this Non- Discrimination ordinance as planned, and some, like the Log Cabin Republicans of Houston have been working behind the scenes towards its passage. Here’s what LCR had to say on the group’s Facebook page

The Log Cabin Republicans of Houston applauds Mayor Parker’s plans to introduce the upcoming Equal Rights Ordinance. The ordinance is a significant step to promote the economic development of Houston. The great city of Houston is currently experiencing an economic highpoint, and it would be well served by protecting its workforce from incidents of discrimination. This proposal is good policy which will move Houston forward into the 21st century.

The history of the Republican Party has been one of supporting equal treatment of all people before the law, including supporting the civil rights movement for Black Americans, women suffrage, and the 1964 civil rights act. It is in this same vein that we today urge all city council members and citizens of Houston to support this important step for our city.

As Cohen stated above, dispelling misconceptions about this ordinance is just as key as anything else. Thanks to groups like LCR, we can put one more to bed… Houstonians on both the Left and the Right support equality, and want to see this ordinance move forward. Hopefully Council Members will keep this in mind as they consider their vote.

 

Houston NDO Draft INCLUDES Private Employment Protections

After months of intense negotiations, the Draft of Houston’s Comprehensive Non-Discrimination Ordinance has finally arrived, with some most excellent news. Though the original language as planned (via the Mayor’s State of the City speech and several other public comments) did not include protections that extended to private employment, some important changes have been made. Directly from the Draft

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 2, 15 AND 17 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, HOUSTON, TEXAS, PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS IN CITY EMPLOYMENT, CITY SERVICES, CITY CONTRACTING PRACTICES, HOUSING, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS, AND PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT; CONTAINING FINDINGS AND OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE FOREGOING SUBJECT; DECLARING CERTAIN CONDUCT UNLAWFUL; PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY…

The ordinance would extend protections to all persons employed in the City of Houston regardless of sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy. Exemptions to this law would only be made for religious institutions, private clubs and small businesses (those with fewer than 50 employees).

So what appear to be last minute changes have significantly strengthened the law as planned. Of course it’s not been voted on by Council yet, but even having this be the Mayor’s intent is a huge step forward, and one that even a couple of weeks ago was highly uncertain. But thanks to tireless work on behalf of Houston’s Progressive community, this change is now sure to come for a vote.

Like any and all legislation, this is in itself is not a “perfect” ordinance… no such law exists. But it does represent a fundamental shift in the belief system of Houston. Through it’s passage, the city can move from a place that sanctions inequality, to a place that cares about the life, health and prosperity of all of it’s diverse citizens. Much more political horse-trading lies ahead, but for today it’s important to recognize Mayor Annise Parker and salute the courage it took to move the needle on this issue. Throughout her tenure as Mayor, Parker has shown the capacity for getting the big things done for Houston. Today is the start of a very big step forward for the 2.2 million Texans that call Houston home.

But JUST the start…

If you are a Houstonian and support this Comprehensive Non- Discrimination Ordinance, it’s now more important than ever that you call, email your elected City Council Members and voice that support!! This handy form from the Houston Stonewall Young Democrats is a great place to start. I used it, and started getting replies/ updates from Council Members immediately.

Lone Star Q and Texpatriate have more.