Houston’s new gay mayor, Annise Parker, donned her jackboots by issuing subpoenas for local pastors’ sermons that deal with homosexuality and gender identity issues, because she claims they are violating the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (H.E.R.O.). Turns out, Parker may be all hat and no cattle… because she is backing down amidst a tremendous outcry against a blatant violation of religious rights, protected under the Constitution. Don’t mess with Texan pastors.
Image credit: Houston Chronicle – Johnny Hanson
From TPNN:
Dave Welch, the executive director of the Texas Pastor Council, is one of the five ministers who received a subpoena. He said he will not be intimidated by Annise Parker, who is the city’s first openly lesbian mayor, nor will he comply with the city’s demands.
“My answer to that is – bring it on,” he said.
Houston’s city attorney issued the subpoenas in a response to a lawsuit filed related to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (H.E.R.O.), the city’s new non-discrimination ordinance, also known as the “Bathroom Bill.”
The new law, which has yet to take effect, would (among other things) allow men who identify as women to use the restrooms of their choice – and vice versa. Opponents launched a petition drive to put the issue on the ballot.
However, the city threw out the petitions claiming there were not enough legitimate signatures. Opponents then filed a lawsuit – which led the city to issue the subpoenas.
Ironically, none of the five subpoenaed pastors are plaintiffs in the lawsuit.
And from the IJReview:
The Chairman of the Harris County Republican Party, a local businessman, and two Houston pastors have filed the lawsuit against the city of Houston, Mayor Annise Parker, and the city Secretary for the “Houston Equal Rights Ordinance” (or “HERO”), which they argue opens the doors for sexual predators to enter women’s restrooms under the guise of “confused gender identity,” Breitbart reports.
But this lawsuit has provoked the city of Houston to subpoena city pastors – who reportedly have nothing to do with the lawsuit – for any sermons and communications which have ever discussed the “HERO Act,” the mayor, or sexuality and gender issues.
It is a good thing that the Mayor and the ruling elite in Houston are backing down, because a whole bunch of pastors are willing to go to jail over this. In the fight for religious liberty, Texans remember the Alamo and will fight to the bitter end for their Constitutional rights.
[…] Pastors to Mayor: Don’t Mess with Texas Pulpits – Hands Off Our Sermons […]