Texas Court: Voters to Decide Gay Rights Bill

Texas state Supreme Court has ruled Houston residents should have the opportunity to vote on a controversial gay rights ordinance.

The City Council passed the measure last year at the urging of gay Houston Mayor Annise Parker.

Pastors and other opponents gathered some 18,000 signatures needed to put the ordinance on the ballot.

The City Council said many of the signatures were invalid and when the pastors sued, the mayor tried to subpoena their sermons.

Now the court has ruled the ordinance must be repealed by August 24 or put to the vote.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott praised the ruling, saying, "Freedom of expression can only exist once government removes itself from stifling free speech, repressing religious liberty, and interfering with the lives of citizens."

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins also commended the ruling.

"The courageous pastors of Houston have succeeded in holding their governmental leaders accountable," Perkins said in a statement.

"Today's decision by the Texas Supreme Court is a win for the rule of law, not just in Houston, but for liberty-loving Texans and Americans everywhere," he continued. "As the Texas Supreme Court reminded us today, the power of referendum is the exercise by the people of a power reserved to them and this power should be protected."