Amid an avalanche of Republican victories throughout the country Tuesday night -- and
several in Texas
-- it's easy to feel disheartened about the prospects for LGBT equality over the next two years. But one city in Texas actually took a step forward in protecting its LGBT citizens Tuesday night.
Voters in Dallas overwhelmingly approved a proposition to update the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, making it more explicitly inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity, reports LGBT outlet the
Dallas Voice
.
The proposition, which passed with more than 75 percent of the vote, updates language that is more than a decade old to enumerate sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics, the
Voice
reports. Although the existing version of the ordinance mentioned those traits, the new wording "will be clearer and more inclusive," according to the
Voice
.
The passage of strengthened LGBT protections in Dallas stands in start contrast to Houston mayor
Annise Parker
's efforts on behalf of a similar ordinance in Houston, which have seen
anti-LGBT religious leaders
trot out antigay and
transphobic scare tactics
, launch a
(failed) repeal effort
, then eventually file a lawsuit against the
Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
, which has effectively stalled its implementation even though the City Council passed it in May. Mayor Parker, an out lesbian, issued subpoenas to five Houston pastors in that case to testify about their involvement, but the backlash was so swift and vociferous that
Parker eventually withdrew those requests
for information from religious leaders meddling in politics.
