Members of Houston's transgender community sounded off on their city's rejection of a non-discrimination ballot measure that included protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a poignant new video.
Prop. 1, known as Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), would have barred discrimination on the basis of race, age, military status, disability and 11 other categories in "city employment, city services, city contracting practices, housing, public accommodations, and private employment." Conservative activists, however, dubbed Prop. 1 the "bathroom ordinance," and argued its passage would lead to male sexual predators dressing up as women and entering women's restrooms.
In the above clip, transgender Texans hit back at those claims, noting, "It's not about the bathrooms."
One person said, "It's about being able to not be afraid that your landlord might evict you for being trans." Another person said, "It's about knowing that you'll get the medical care that you'll need without your information being shared."
The video was directed by Vito Cammisano, who starred in a special Spirit Day video with his ex, Michael Sam, last month. Cammisano, who resides in Texas, told The Huffington Post in an email that last week's HERO defeat left him frustrated.
"As I was following the HERO proposition, I was angered by the lies and negative stereotypes the Houston trans community was receiving from the opposition," he said. "The trans community of Houston are the experts in their lives, and it's important they are given the opportunity to speak about them, accurately!"
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. Well done!
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