HOUSTON: Haters Turn In Double The Needed Signatures To Force Repeal Vote On LGBT Rights Ordinance

Via the Houston Chronicle:

Opponents of Houston's new non-discrimination ordinance turned in well more than the minimum number of signatures needed to trigger a November vote on whether to repeal the measure. A group of conservative political and faith leaders on Thursday claimed to have gathered more than 50,000 signatures within the 30-day window after the ordinance's passage, about 30,000 of which they said have been validated as coming from registered city of Houston voters, as required by law. "It has been shown and demonstrated that the people of the city do not want this ordinance," said pastor Max Miller, of the Baptist Ministers Association of Houston and Vicinity. "We simply say: Allow the people to vote on this ordinance."

The city has 30 days to verify the signatures. Mayor Annise Parker: "I am confident voters will soundly defeat any challenge to the ordinance." More from Lone Star Q:

The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, known as HERO, prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodation and housing on the basis of sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, familial status, marital status, military status, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or pregnancy. Before the ordinance passed in May, Houston was the only major city in the U.S. that lacked citywide LGBT protections. Supporters of the ordinance have said they feel a ballot measure in November could have the unintended effect of boosting the Democratic ticket in Harris County by galvanizing pro-LGBT voters.