Earlier this month, billionaire Bob McNair, owner of the Houston Texans NFL team, donated $10,000 to the Campaign for Houston, a coalition working to defeat the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO). That campaign has repeatedly attempted to demonize transgender women as sexual predators in an attempt to defeat the LGBT nondiscrimination protections.
On Friday, ThinkProgress received a statement from McNair declaring that he disagrees with the language the Campaign for Houston has used in its efforts and that he does not “believe in or tolerate personal or professional discrimination of any kind.” As such, he has demanded they return his campaign contribution:
I recently made a personal contribution to Campaign for Houston because my thorough review of the HERO ordinance led me to believe that a thoughtful rewrite would provide a better ordinance that would provide strong non-discrimination protections for all Houstonians, which I would support, and would be less divisive of our city.
It was on these principles that I made my personal contribution to Campaign for Houston. To my great dismay, Campaign for Houston made numerous unauthorized statements about my opposition to HERO in print, broadcast and social media – including attributing certain statements of belief to me. Their actions and statements were never discussed with nor approved by me. Therefore I instructed the Campaign to return my contribution.
I do not believe in or tolerate personal or professional discrimination of any kind. I also believe that we Houstonians should have an ordinance that unites our community and provides a bold statement of non-discrimination. I encourage all Houstonians to vote on November 3.
Robert F. Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work together to change a small portion of events, and in the total of those acts will be written the history of our generation.”
Conservatives had praised McNair’s donation, claiming that it ruled out any possibility the NFL might pull the Super Bowl from Houston if HERO didn’t pass.
Richard Carlbom, director of the Houston Unites campaign advocating for the passage of HERO, praised McNair’s decision in a statement to ThinkProgress:
Like Bob McNair, many Houstonians are taking a step back and realizing the opposition’s ads on the Equal Rights Ordinance are intended to raise anxiety with outright distortions and quite frankly lies. When you take a second look, the Equal Rights Ordinance protects all Houstonians from discrimination and makes Houston a place everyone can be proud to call home. And that’s why the majority of small and large businesses in Houston support Proposition 1.
McNair had previously justified his donation by claiming that he believes Houstonians “should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect” but that HERO had “begun to separate rather than unite our community.”
See here for the background. Gotta say, I didn’t expect this. I wonder where the pressure came from that got to him. I don’t think he’s uninformed enough to have not been aware of what the Campaign for Houston was about – if he was so uninformed, he probably needs to yell at a staffer or three – and I’m not nearly naive enough to think he went out and educated his own self about this and came to this conclusion on his own. Whoever was able to make him see the light of day, kudos to you, and kudos to ThinkProgress for their excellent coverage of the HERO referendum. Be sure to read this story of theirs, about which I hope to say more later. The Chron story on the McNair mind-change is here, and the Press and BOR have more.
Well let me say congrats to all the pro hero people. That was a real good job getting him to switch.
Kuff says:
“Gotta say, I didn’t expect this. I wonder where the pressure came from that got to him. I don’t think he’s uninformed enough to have not been aware of what the Campaign for Houston was about – if he was so uninformed, he probably needs to yell at a staffer or three – and I’m not nearly naive enough to think he went out and educated his own self about this and came to this conclusion on his own. Whoever was able to make him see the light of day, kudos to you, and kudos to ThinkProgress for their excellent coverage of the HERO referendum.”
I couldn’t agree more. Hats off to those who made him switch. I would like to know who they were. I would like to hire them on my next project. It was a real power move.
McNair doesn’t bow to pressure from very many people, perhaps the NFL giving him that call we were all skeptical about previously or someone at the city threatening to pull the free traffic control and security he gets each game day.
Maybe it was because Jared Woodfill was gloating over the donation.
Steven,
Interesting comments. It is clear to me he put his tail between his legs and backed down like a scared dog. I sure am curious about what would make a Billionaire break. Maybe the NFL did weigh in.
Truth of the matter I don’t think he should have taken sides at all. to many people pro and con attend his games and love the Texans. His vacillating reminds me of their inability to pick a starting quarterback. Sighhhhhhhhh
I’m just curious how the city of houston even thinks it has the power to enact such an ordinance.
Our Texas constitution says in Article I, Section 3a:
“Sec. 3a. EQUALITY UNDER THE LAW. Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed, or national origin. This amendment is self-operative.”
Further, our Texas constitution says in Article I, Section 29:
“Sec. 29. PROVISIONS OF BILL OF RIGHTS EXCEPTED FROM POWERS OF GOVERNMENT; TO FOREVER REMAIN INVIOLATE. To guard against transgressions of the high powers herein delegated, we declare that everything in this “Bill of Rights” is excepted out of the general powers of government, and shall forever remain inviolate, and all laws contrary thereto, or to the following provisions, shall be void.”
If Section 3a is “excepted out of the general powers of government”, then exactly where does the city council of houston think it gets its power to enact HERO?
Joe, havn’t you been paying the attention. The City can do what ever it wants to do.
HERO is not contrary thereto, it adds to 3a.
Seems as though, if municipal equal rights ordinances violated the Texas constitution, that could be readily sorted out in court. Unless someone wants to offer the argument that the Supreme Court of Texas is populated by liberals inclined to concede powers to local governments if doing so advances social justice agendas? Or, perhaps, that our state Supreme Court justices are among Paul’s infamous Evil League of Evil, salivating at the opportunity to put on dresses and invade restrooms?
I think the fact that the Dallas and San Antonio ordinances have not been successfully challenged is sufficient to demonstrate that there is no conflict between the ordinances and the state constitution.
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Robbie, I never said they had to put on dresses.
Paul, that’s true. I also added the Dr. Horrible reference and some expectoration. Our apologies for the misattribution. We regret the error.
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