HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s mayor says the city has withdrawn subpoenas seeking information from five pastors as part of a lawsuit over an ordinance banning discrimination against gay and transgender residents.
The religious leaders said the court orders violated their First Amendment freedoms.
Mayor Annise (ah-NEES’) Parker, who’s gay, said Wednesday that the subpoenas were never intended to infringe on anyone’s religious freedoms.
Attorney Andy Taylor, representing opponents of the ordinance, called the mayor’s actions a step in the right direction. But Taylor called on Parker to allow residents to vote on the ordinance passed in May by the Houston City Council.
The ordinance consolidates city bans on discrimination and increases protections for gay and transgender residents. City attorneys recently subpoenaed the pastors, seeking speeches, presentations or sermons related to the repeal petition effort.
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