Graphic by Courtney Williams/The Cougar
When I hear the word hero, I think of someone in a cape that wears spandex and has superpowers. Now, for Houstonians, HERO is the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance — a measure to protect Houston residents and visitors from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Despite its goal of equality, there is controversy surrounding this regulation, with false claims based on fear and judgement.
There have been “Anti-Hero” ads, like the one that shows a man following a little girl into a bathroom.
“Any man at any time could enter a woman’s bathroom simply by claiming to be a woman that day,” the ad says.
Local police and Mayor Annise Parker have already responded to the ad, expressing no concerns for this.
“On the face of it, that’s a crime,” Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland said. “Nothing will change about the violation of the law.”
Indecent exposure, harassment and assault in restrooms are already illegal. HERO doesn’t allow a crime to be committed.
HERO is about two vital issues: anti-discrimination and the health of the local economy.
Houston is the last major Texas city to enact equal rights protections. Dallas, El Paso and San Antonio have had nondiscrimination protections on the books for more than a decade and have had no problems — with transgendered bathroom lurkers or anything else, for that matter.
The equal rights ordinance is a vital local tool to help protect all residents when they are treated unfairly, without forcing them to file a federal lawsuit or bear the burden of a costly and protracted legal battle.
If the ordinance is repealed, our local economy is likely to suffer. Being that Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., repealing the ordinance would weaken our rapidly growing reputation for openness and appreciation for diversity.
The result would be a loss of jobs when conventions and big-time sporting events decide to go elsewhere, when corporations conclude that Houston may not be all that interested in nurturing a diverse workforce, when talented young people get the impression that Houston is stuck in the past.
The Greater Houston Partnership and the Greater Houston Black Chamber, along with many others are in support of this ordinance.
“We believe all Houstonians should be able to find a job, enjoy an evening out and find a place to live without facing discrimination,” said the President and CEO of Greater Houston Partnership. “These are basic rights that we should all enjoy in a welcoming community, and they are good for business.”
Making sure we live in a professional environment with open-mindedness is key to not only our economy, but to the well-being of the residents in our city. To allow small-minded arguments, deceitful claims and cynical tactics to triumph on election day would be a rejection of core values that are fundamental for Houston.
Opinion columnist Rebekah Barquero is a print journalism junior and may be reached at [email protected]
let the voters decide, not some nut-job liberal prejudice Mayor,
The homophobic agenda has no business deciding this issue. Especially little cry babies like you. Your city will always be ignorant, backward, redneck, racist and homophobic.
Disgusting freaks of nature. God made you who you are you can not decide otherwise.
How cute. Another cry baby who allows the lives of other people bother and affect them for no legitimate reason.
Why would a man who feel they are a women want to use the women restroom? If these men were born men and now they claim that they feel like a woman, I have one question for you: how do you know what it’s like to feel like a women when you have never been a woman? Come on people lets look at reality, not what we want reality to be.. Vote NO!
I certainly wouldn’t want you, an avowed pedophile, anywhere near my kids.
But heterosexual males are content with and praise female pedophiles being around their little boys and touching their little boy parts, saying “where were those teachers when I was in school?” and “” I would have high fived that boy!” and complain to no end that someone had the gall to snitch on her, because according to them, it’s male nature to enjoy it. You seem to be the only ones in society who think you’re entitled to pick and choose for the rest of us which instances of pedophilia are acceptable and which pedophiles we should praise.
????????? Is your last name Armstrong? Because that’s quite a stretch.
Where the heck did you get the idea that I’d somehow support female pedophiles? In what universe does denouncing pedophile straight men empower/promote pedophile straight women? Is that the kind of sea-saw you think exists with regards to morality?
All instances of pedophilia are horrible and reprehensible, and should be punished as harshly as humanly possible. But anyone with a brain and a heart would feel that way on the matter.
Considering you’re bringing these “attacks” out of nowhere, I’m going to guess you’re trying to deflect blame away from the matter at hand, a typical right-wing troll move. HERO has nothing to do with pedophiles. It has to do with equal treatment for Transgender people. If you can’t see the difference, you’re too stupid to vote and lack the empathy to be a good parent.
HERO my behind. The naming is just for confusing voters.
Should have just ask for a third bathroom instead for ‘not male nor female’.