Petitioners file lawsuit over Houston's non-discrimination ordinance

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- After losing a battle, opponents of Houston's Equal Rights Ordinance say they aren't surrendering.

On Tuesday, petitioners filed a lawsuit against Mayor Annise Parker and the city, claiming they had enough signatures to put the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, or HERO, on an election ballot. A earlier, Houston City Attorney Dave Feldman announced that the repeal petition failed to get the 17,269 valid signatures it needed and declared the petition invalid.

HERO prohibits discrimination in all instances, including gender identity. It passed in May but not without controversy.

Opponents say their view is this ordinance is an intrusion on their rights, and they do not want the gay/lesbian/transgender lifestyle to be imposed on their communities. Supporters of the ordinance it puts Houston in line with all other major cities around the country.

Mayor Parker already has said the city won't immediately implement the ordinance because of the pending litigation.