City Council approves Houston Equal Rights Ordinance ballot language

HOUSTON - The Houston City Council approved final language for the city's Equal Rights Ordinance on the November ballot Wednesday.

The final language reads:

"Proposition 1: [Relating to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.] Are you in favor of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, Ord. No. 2014-530, which prohibits discrimination in city employment and city services, city contracts, public accommodations, private employment, and housing based on an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, or pregnancy?"

This comes a week after the Texas Supreme Court directed them to use "yes" or "no" wording.

The Texas Supreme Court said voters in Houston had to decide whether they want an equal right ordinance in their city and not whether the existing one should be repealed.

The ruling over ballot wording for a November referendum was another stumble for Mayor Annise Parker and efforts to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the nation's fourth-largest city.

The Houston City Council last year adopted a nondiscrimination ordinance. It aims to protect gay and transgender people against discrimination in employment and public places.

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