Houston (CBS HOUSTON) – Houston Texans owner Bob McNair has given a large sum of money to help oppositions to the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
According to FOX 26 McNair has offered up $10,000 to the groups that are opposing the HERO ordinance (Proposition 1).
“That was huge when he decided that he was going to put his money behind defeating this ordinance. That should send a very loud, a very clear message to anyone who would try to scare people based on these bogus Super Bowl type arguments,” said Jared Woodfill, spokesman for the anti-HERO group Campaign for Houston.
The arguments that Woodfill is referring to are that of the pro-HERO groups that say that if HERO doesn’t pass that it could have negative impact on the economy, and while the Super Bowl might not be pulled from Hosuton it could hinder future bids by the city.
McNair did not make a statement about his donation as of publication of this article.
“The reality is he, like most Houstonians, believes that males shouldn’t be allowed to go into female restrooms, locker rooms or showers so he’s taking a stand and saying no,” added Woodfill.
Houston Unites issued the following statement after hearing of McNair’s contribution:
“The Greater Houston Partnership knows that Houston needs the Equal Rights Ordinance to remain one of America’s great cities. Those who oppose the Equal Rights Ordinance are out of step with the NFL and 200 cities around the country and 17 states.”
HERO, according to the proposition submitted to the City Council that the ordinance would prohibit “discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics in the city employment, city services, city contracting practices, housing, public accommodations and private employments.”
The main point of opposition to HERO for groups against it, is that it would allow transgendered individuals to use public restrooms for their identified gender rather than their birth gender. Opponents have had commercials on local radio and television stating that this portion of the law would allow men to freely go into women’s restrooms and showers.
