FIRST AMENDMENT UNDER ATTACK IN HOUSTON

For most of my life on this earth homosexual activity has been illegal. It was described by various laws as “sins against nature,” or “crime against nature.” Either way it was illegal and punishable by imprisonment. Personally I am glad we got smarter and that these activities are no longer illegal. I believe it is nobody’s business what goes on in the privacy of one’s own home.

That having been said, something has come up recently which absolutely stretches the limits of my imagination. The City Council of Houston, Texas has passed an ordinance called the HERO act, Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. It seems simple enough on its face until you get into the details. For example, the new law allows men to use ladies restrooms and vice versa if they feel inclined to do so because of their perceived gender identity. All they have to do is declare their perception and walk right in.

Some religious leaders and pastors in Houston have objected and put together a petition with 50,000 signatures calling for the repeal of this ordinance. All they needed was 17,000 signatures. Well the City Council threw the petition out claiming they could not prove the signatures.

Oh, it gets better. The Mayor, Annise Parker, herself an avowed lesbian, has taken this illegal act a step further. She has declared that pastors in Houston must send their sermons to her for approval under penalty of contempt with a fine of $5000. Her contention is that pastors cannot use their pulpits for political speech, especially if they disagree with her. She and the City Council of Houston, the fourth largest city in America, have decided that they do not have to abide by the first amendment to the Constitution. Freedom of speech and religion only applies if they agree with your speech and your religion.

Well I’ve got some news for Mayor, emperor pro tem, Parker and her co-conspirators. You are violating the basic law of this country. Perhaps you all should read up on the first amendment to the Bill of Rights. It deals with things like freedom of speech and freedom of religion. The state of Texas is not going to allow this to go any further. Petitions are already being prepared to recall both the Mayor and all on the Council who signed on this silly ordinance. Very soon you all will be relegated to be the brunt of jokes and laid to rest on the dung heap of lousy politicians. And the sooner the better.

I really don’t care who the Mayor sleeps with. Her choices and lifestyle are her business. I do care when people in positions of authority decide to require me to knuckle under to their particular nonsense. Mayor Parker can sleep with her goat if she chooses but she cannot, under any circumstance, have edit authority over any sermon from any pastor, now or ever, nor can her goat.

Finally, the real problem here is that a city like Houston would elect someone like Annise Parker to be their Mayor. It doesn’t say much for their intellect, does it?  Electorates in cities, counties, states and finally countries make election decisions which they sometimes regret. Make wise choices. Elect competent people. The country you save may be your own.

Ron Scarbro