Houston rejects controversial LGBT anti-bias policy

Houston voters soundly defeated an ordinance that would have made gender identity and sexual orientation protected classes, a measure opponents said would trample privacy and religious liberty rights.

The measure gained national attention after outgoing Houston Mayor Annise Parker went toe-to-toe with the city’s diverse religious community over the ordinance. Opponents said it would allow men to use women’s restroom and locker room facilities and prevent businesses from setting policies that best met their customers’ needs.

Parker’s fight with the pastors started with a rejected petition drive and went all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. The state’s top justices ordered the city to let voters decide the ordinance’s fate.

The ordinance divided Houston’s business community, with some leaders supporting it out of fear a “no” vote would have a negative impact on the city’s convention business. But unlike in Indiana earlier this year, most major national companies did not weigh in on the local fight. Sporting leagues also remained conspicuously silent on the issue, although ordinance supporters said if it failed the NFL and NCAA would cancel major sporting events already scheduled to be held in Houston.

President Barack Obama urged Houstonians to support the ordinance, as did Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton. Major Republican lawmakers in Texas, including Gov. Greg Abbott, opposed the measure.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.