City Passes Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Wednesday's vote was a historic one after voters struck down a similar ordinance passed by City Council 17 years ago.

The ordinance assures that gays and lesbians cannot be discriminated against if they're applying for city jobs or contracts.

There was a fight by conservative council members to remove language in the ordinance specifically protecting gays. They wanted to replace it with a general statement about the city banning discrimination.

"The problem I have is I believe it is wrong for government to engage in racial profiling," council member Orlando Sanchez said. "Your going to list the group you think ought to be protected, and I think that's wrong."

Conservatives lost the round after city lawyers explained changing the language would make the ordinance impossible to enforce.

The ordinance passed, delighting many gay activists.

"If you have no problem protecting all Houstonians, why should you have a problem naming who you want to protect?" Sue Lovell, former president of the Gay and Lesbian Caucus, asked.

However, the ordinance angered conservatives like Dave Wilson, who said that it's the first step to granting gay city workers domestic partner benefits.

"I've never been so disappointed in our local government as I am today in passing this so-called anti-discrimination ordinance," Wilson said.

Wilson said that he has almost collected 20,000 signatures needed to force a referendum vote on the domestic partners benefits issue.

It is an issue that didn't come before the City Council Wednesday, but anti-discrimination author Annise Parker does want the council to take it up eventually.

"It's clearly something I'd like to see, but the two are not tied together," Parker said. "That's a battle for another day."

Wednesday's ordinance battle wasn't the first time the city has tackled the topic.

An anti-discrimination order was passed in 1984, but it was only in effect for one year. In 1985, that order was overturned.

Mayor Lee P. Brown tried an executive order for anti-discrimination in 1998, but that was stopped by an injunction by council member Rob Todd.

Brown also issued an executive order banning discrimination, which included benefits for same-sex partners four years ago. It has been tied up in courts ever since.