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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Texas Supreme Court ruled for a coalition of Houston pastors and city leaders who last year challenged Mayor Annise Parker and the City Council’s imposition of a pro-LGBT ordinance on the citizens of Houston. The Texas Supreme Court agreed with the plaintiffs that they were denied their right to vote, ordering Houston to obey the city charter and either repeal the special rights ordinance or put it on the ballot this coming November. As the Texas Supreme Court said today, “[t]he legislative power reserved to the people of Houston is not being honored.”
The case made national headlines when Houston Mayor Parker’s administration attempted to subpoena the sermons and private communications of five pastors who opposed the special rights ordinance. Family Research Council co-hosted a simulcast in Houston in November in response to Mayor Parker’s heavy-handed actions.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement:
“The courageous pastors of Houston have succeeded in holding their governmental leaders accountable. Today’s decision by the Texas Supreme Court is a win for the rule of law not just in Houston, but for liberty-loving Texans and Americans everywhere. As the Texas Supreme Court reminded us today, ‘[t]he power of referendum is the exercise by the people of a power reserved to them and this power should be protected.’
“The Houston Five stood for freedom and the right to exercise their First Freedoms in the public square. Hopefully other elected leaders who want to ignore the voice of voters will take note at the Texas Supreme Court’s rebuke of Mayor Parker," concluded Perkins.
Family Research Council is hosting a National Watchmen Summit on August 24th-25th in Dallas, TX to inform attendees of how their churches will be affected now that the Supreme Court legalized same-sex “marriage” in all 50 states. Pastors can register for this national event at http://www.watchmenpastors.org/events.
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