Annise Parker hits back at Lance Berkman for anti-HERO advertisement

Video: Raw video: TV spot of former Astros star Lance Berkman voicing support against Houston equal rights ordinance

Mayor Annise Parker took a moment on Twitter to bash former Houston Astros star Lance Berkman after he voiced opposition toward the city's equal rights ordinance known as HERO.

In late September, Berkman recorded an advertisement for the Campaign for Houston PAC, a group that is opposed to HERO.

"My wife and I have four daughters," Berkman says in the ad. "Proposition One, the 'bathroom ordinance,' would allow troubled men to enter women's public bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. This would violate their privacy and put them in harm's way. That's just wrong."

The mayor called Berkman a hypocrite for not speaking out against equal rights ordinances for not criticizing equal rights ordinances in other major U.S. cities where he's played ball.

Lance Berkman played in St. Louis. Guess his girls didn't go to his games! SL has a non-discrimination ordinance.-A http://t.co/gzEbKIYOd9 — Annise Parker (@AnniseParker) October 5, 2015

When Lance Berkman went from NYC to STL to play ball did he do it to escape NYCs scary nondiscrimination law?-A — Annise Parker (@AnniseParker) October 5, 2015

Then Lance Berkman went to Dallas. Oops. Dallas amended its Charter to clarify gender identity protections. Can you spell hypocrite?-A — Annise Parker (@AnniseParker) October 5, 2015

On Facebook, Mayor Parker shared a further statement:

"For me, this fight is about how much I love this city. I don't want anyone to ever disparage Houston. That someone who made his name in our city would inject himself into this debate by taking to the airwaves to discredit an effort to ban discrimination in all forms did upset me. This ordinance protects all Houstonians and his remarks diminished it to something trivial."

The ordinance bans discrimination on a variety of levels, including sex, race, color, ethnicity and other classifications. Despite the wording of the ordinance, HERO's opponents have instead honed in on the sexual orientation and gender identity protections.

The ordinance will be up for vote this coming November.



See more famous Owls in the following slideshow. Mayor Annise Parker fired off at Astros legend and fellow Rice alum Lance Berkman after the baseball player came out against the HERO ordinance.

See more famous Owls in the following slideshow. Mayor Annise Parker fired off at Astros legend and fellow Rice alum Lance Berkman after the baseball player came out against the HERO ordinance. Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Annise Parker hits back at Lance Berkman for anti-HERO advertisement 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

In the meantime, indulge yourself with this little bit of hometown trivia: Both Berkman and Parker are Rice University alumni.

See other famous people who can claim to be Rice U alumni in the gallery above.