Texans owner Bob McNair’s anti-HERO donation stokes debate

“The Greater Houston Partnership knows that Houston needs the Equal Rights Ordinance to remain one of America’s great cities”.

Earlier this week, Houston Texans owner Bob McNair dropped $10,000 into the account of Campaign for Houston, an organization that exists to oppose LGBT rights in that city.

The ordinance would prohibit discrimination of any kind based on sex, race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, age, martial status, religion, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Group members are fighting against the ordinance which they’ve dubbed “the bathroom ordinance”, saying it will allow men to use women’s restrooms. Berkman has appeared in a tv ad asking Houstonians to “Vote “No” on Proposition 1″.

Considering the National Football League owner’s history of political contributions, Richard Carlbom, the campaign manager for Houston Unites – a coalition supporting HERO – wasn’t surprised or alarmed by McNair’s donation.

The 78-year-old McNair has been the Texans’ owner since their inception and has an estimated net worth of $3.3 billion.

Campaign for Houston spokesman Jared Woodfill confirmed Friday that McNair sent the check to the group, which says the ordinance is “an attack on the traditional family”. The Chronicle reported in that Houston Mayor Annise Parker has warned in that repealing the law might jeopardize procuring events corresponding to the 2017 Super Bowl.

“I strongly believe that everyone who lives or works in or visits Houston should be treated with the utmost dignity and respect”, he said in a statement. “This problem can be solved by defeating the current bill in November, thoughtfully rewriting it and then resubmitting it to the voters”.