Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott spoke out on Monday against a proposed LGBT anti-discrimination bill in San Antonio. The measure has been in the headlines recently because of City Councilwoman Elisa Chan's remarks on it, in which she called gays and lesbians "disgusting".
The Dallas Morning News reports:
The ordinance mirrors language already adopted in five other large Texas cities, including Dallas. AG candidates Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman, Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas and Sen. Ken Paxton of Plano all have come out against the ordinance.
That chorus was joined by Abbott on Monday, who said it would impinge on religious freedoms. He also suggested it would run afoul of the Texas Constitution, which was amended in 2005 to define marriage as between a man and a woman.
“Religious expression is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and this ordinance is also contrary to the clearly expressed will of the Texas Legislature,” Abbott said.
“Although the proposal has been couched in terms of liberty and equality, it would have the effect of inhibiting the liberty of expression and equality of opportunity for San Antonians,” he said.
The San Antonio City Council is expected to vote on the ordinance on September 5.
