August 27, 2014 11:48 AM

Opponents of Houston equal rights ordinance take their case to Texas Supreme Court

Legal tussle continues over whether there will be a public vote to overturn protections for LGBT community and others

Conservative activists who want to see residents of Houston vote on whether to keep the city’s recently passed Equal Rights Ordinance have now filed with the Texas Supreme Court in what some might call a longshot bid to get the issue on this fall’s ballot. A judge in Houston has already rejected an attempt by opponents to get immediate relief and that judge set a January trial date.

Former Harris County GOP Chairman Jared Woodfill and conservative activist Dr. Steve Hotze argue that the City Secretary ruled opponents had gathered enough valid petition signatures to force a vote on the issue but was then illegally overruled by the City Attorney and Mayor Annise Parker.

Woodfill said on Wednesday that that his group is hoping to get a public vote “as soon as possible.”