Update on Houston Advocacy Efforts

Last month, Deputy Director Tricia Fechter Gates and I met with key officials in Houston regarding the repeal of HERO and our concerns about welcome and safety for all of our members in Houston.

All of the individuals and organizations with whom we met were opposed to the repeal and expressed disappointment and frustration that a small group of voters were able to achieve reversal of the human rights ordinance.

These individuals and groups are actively organizing to restore the ordinance. Political analysts believe these efforts, if executed properly, can lead to restoration of a similar ordinance in 2018 or 2019 after the general election in 2016 is over and foundational work to raise awareness is completed city wide.

Local trans advocacy leader, Lou Weaver, who self identifies as a trans man and who works for Equality Texas, informed us that (1) they are hopeful we will not move our event, (2) the communities represented under HERO will not be helped and could be hurt by a boycott (3) our help is needed and welcomed in fighting for a new ordinance and raising awareness within the larger population of Houston voters who did not turn out to vote.

Only 18 percent of eligible persons voted. They were deeply influenced by a well orchestrated and funded campaign by religious conservatives.  This campaign was designed to convince women that they might be attacked by trans identified persons in all gender restroom facilities.

We spent the day listening to each person's perspective and experience regarding life for the significant population of trans persons in Houston and brainstormed strategies with the entire group including these individuals:

Lou Weaver, Equality Texas
Terri Burke, Executive Director of ACLU
Ellen Cohen, Mayor Pro Tem
Captain Larry Satterwhite, Special Operations, Houston Police Department
Andy Icken, Chief Development Officer, City of Houston
Mike Waterman, President, Visit Houston
Terry Beutler, Senior VP of Destination Services & Events, Visit Houston
Judi Quesonova, VP of Destination Services, Visit Houston
Nathan Tollett, Director of Sales, Visit Houston
A.J. Mistretta, Senior Public Relations Manager, Visit Houston
DeShawn Fitzpatrick, Destination Services Manager, Visit Houston
Dave Osterhout, Director of Operations, George R. Brown Convention Center
Jonathan Newport, Director of Government Affairs, Houston First
Joe Palmieri, General Manager, Hilton Americas
Janice O’Neill-Cox, Director of Sales & Marketing, Hilton Americas
Jay Marsella, Director of Sales & Marketing, Marriott Marquis Houston
Scott Austin, General Manager, Embassy Suites Downtown
Bixente Pery, Hotel Manager, Four Seasons
Michael T. Smith, Director, Strategic Account Management, Experient

We want to thank these individuals and organizations for meeting with us, for their expression of support for trans citizens in Houston and for their public statements of commitment to safe space, welcome and hospitality for all of our members.

We will continue discussions with them and share ideas with you about ways to help them raise awareness leading to a new a human rights ordinance.  The major advantage of an ordinance is that individuals who have claims do not have to expend funds for an attorney or go to court to seek relief. For trans persons not protected under federal law, this is important.

Human rights ordinances are being challenged in cities throughout the United States. Please be alert to these challenges in your cities (Miami is next). We are hopeful that the work we have started with the 4th largest city in the United States can help other cities deflect repeal efforts. Fear and smear campaigns work when people are uninformed and do not have relationships with targeted individuals and groups. We can help change that reality.