Failure of HERO Highlights Need for Discrimination Protections, Especially for LGBTQ Immigrant Community

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 4, 2015 -  Yesterday, the city of Houston voted down the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO), that provided recourse to marginalized communities, especially those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ), when facing discrimination.

Carlos Padilla, United We Dream's Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project (QUIP) coordinator issued the following statement,

"Yesterday's vote was a disappointment and shows that while the LGBTQ community has made vast strides towards justice, discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity still remain legal in more than half of the country."

"This ordinance failed because of a smear-campaign led by the opposition that relied on hateful and transphobic messaging to scare our communities."

"United We Dream  is committed to bridging the gap between the LGBTQ and immigrant communities. Our #NoMoreClosets campaign, a story collection effort, will highlight the dual-shadow that LGBTQ immigrants live under and will highlight how discrimination protections, such as HERO, are needed for our communities."

United We Dream is the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation, a powerful nonpartisan network made up of 55 local groups in 26 states. UWD organizes and advocates for the dignity and fair treatment of immigrant youth and families, regardless of immigration status. We seek to address the inequities and obstacles faced by immigrant youth and believe that by empowering immigrant youth, we can advance the cause of the entire community—justice for all immigrants.

You can find more about UWD online at www.unitedwedream.org