In a statement Thursday, the White House said it is "confident that the citizens of Houston will vote in favor of fairness and equality." Photo:

In a statement Thursday, the White House said it is "confident that the citizens of Houston will vote in favor of fairness and equality." Photo:

HOUSTON (AP) — An ordinance that would establish nondiscrimination protections for gay and transgender people in Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city, got support this week from some heavy hitters, including the White House and high tech giant Apple.

Houston residents were set to go to the polls on Tuesday to vote on the contested Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.

In a statement Thursday, the White House said it is “confident that the citizens of Houston will vote in favor of fairness and equality.”

Apple says in a separate statement the ordinance “sends a clear message that Houston is focused on a future of inclusion, diversity and continued prosperity.”

Jared Woodfill, a spokesman for the campaign in Houston fighting the ordinance, says the high-profile support will not help get the measure approved.

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