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Houston We Have a Problem: Is This the Ad that Killed the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance?

Posted on
November 3, 2015
by Andrew Cullen
The Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) sparked fierce debate among Houstonians – and this controversial political ad only fueled the fire.

Opponents of HERO branded the proposition as “the bathroom ordinance.” They argued that HERO would allow men to enter women’s restrooms and possibly commit sexual assault. We see that nightmare played out in this political ad.

How the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance Got Flushed

The black and white ad shows a disturbing scenario.

A man barges into a shoddy women’s restroom as we hear the narrator claim that Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance would allow “any man, at any time, could enter a women’s bathroom, simply by claiming to be a woman, that day.”

After shots of a filthy floor and leaky faucet, we see a little girl enter the bathroom and head into her own stall. Before she is able to close the door behind her, the man corners the little girl, who is left looking doe-eyed and helpless.

Houstonians More Divided On HERO Than They Led On

As scary as this ad is, many Houstonians initially dismissed it as inaccurate fear mongering.

KHOU reported that “The ordinance is actually a broad anti-discrimination measure forbidding discrimination based on everything from sex, to color, to age, to military status, to gender identity – the word ‘bathroom’ appears no where,” though it does reference “public utilities.”

Supporters of the ordinance fought back with their own ad, featuring Councilmember Ed Gonzalez, a father and former police officer, who debunked opposing claims.



The clash became the marquee battle for gay rights activists in Texas, with the Human Rights Campaign and the American Civil Liberties Union pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into supporting the campaign, according to the Washington Post.

Polls showed Houstonians were initially split on the issue, but in the end Houston chose to vote against the ordinance.

What do you think about this ad? Did it go too far, or was it affective? Let us know in the comments below.
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