24th October, 2014
Pastors from across the US have reportedly been sending Bibles and sermons to the office of the mayor of Houston, Annise Parker, after five pastors were subpoenaed by the city council to hand over sermons and private communications which referred to homosexuality, gender identity or the mayor.
The matter has sparked an outcry in the States with one group, Faith Driven Consumer, gathering more than 10,000 signatures on a petition which demands the City of Houston "cease and desist all bullying and other offensive actions" against the five pastors.
The subpoenas were issued after a voter lawsuit was filed following a city council decision to reject petitions protesting a controversial equal rights ordinance on sexual orientation and gender identity passed earlier this year. The pastors are reportedly not parties to the lawsuit.
Earlier this week, Peter Kirsanow, a member of the US Commission on Civil Rights, wrote to the mayor expressing his concern over the subpoenas which he said "threaten to have a chilling effect on religious and political speech that is protected by the First Amendment".
The Alliance Defending Freedom – a US-based non-profit legal organisation that advocates for religious freedom, has filed a motion for the subpoenas to be withdrawn.
Ms Parker is the first openly lesbian mayor of a major US city.
– DAVID ADAMS
