Houston, TX, May 27, 2014 – Today, Texas Values Action submitted a Texas Public Information Act request to Houston Mayor Annise Parker and to the Houston City Council members requesting access to e-mails, letters, and correspondence  related to the so-called “equal rights ordinance” proposed by Mayor Parker and supported by some Council members. The Council is expected to take a final vote tomorrow on the controversial LGBT ordinance that has dogged the Council for weeks. The Council was forced to delay action on the issue due to a flood of opposition amongst a diverse group of citizens and local leaders, mass confusion over the language and fear over the impact of enforcement on public safety and the local economy.

Click here to view the Texas Public Information Act request.

The last City Council meeting revealed that important Houston leaders had been left out of the original discussion on this issue. Houston African American leaders, including a local NAACP leader, were shocked that they were told just weeks ago about plans for a new ordinance on discrimination that had been discussed privately (with homosexual advocacy groups) long before the local NAACP and was ever included.

Then, strikingly, Mayor Parker admitted in her own words at the last meeting that the ordinance is really about homosexual advocacy when the lesbian mayor in describing the need and reason for the ordinance conceded in her own words, “this is about me.” Mayor Parker also conceded that the ordinance would still apply to men who seek to use women’s bathrooms.

“Houston citizens deserve to know the truth,” said Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values Action.  “If Mayor Parker and Houston City Council members have nothing to hide, then they should promptly turn over information exchanged about this divisive and ill-advised ordinance.”

Over 92,000 email messages in opposition to the ordinance have already been sent to the Council members in a matter of weeks. Texas Values Action president Jonathan Saenz testified against the ordinance and will be in Houston tomorrow and available to comment on the proposed ordinance.

About Texas Values Action

Texas Values Action is the new advocacy arm of Texas Values, a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvaluesaction.org.