Houston Mayor Goes After Former Astros Star Who Took Public Stand Against Ordinance He Said Would 'Allow Troubled Men…to Enter Women’s Bathrooms’

Houston Mayor Annise Parker — who last year drew the ire of church pastors after the city subpoenaed their sermons — is battling a new foe.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker (Erich Schlegel/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

That would be former Houston Astros star Lance Berkman, who made headlines himself two weeks ago after joining a campaign against Houston's equal-rights ordinance, also known as Proposition 1, which he said "would allow troubled men who claim to be women to enter women's bathrooms."

The ordinance, which will be a ballot measure in the city’s general election Nov. 3, protects access to public accommodations, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, national origin, religion — or gender identity.

"This proposed ordinance says that it will stop discrimination," Berkman said in a radio spot. "But in reality it discriminates against people who believe, like me, that members of the opposite sex should not be forced to share restrooms or locker rooms."

Lance Berkman #17 of the Houston Astros bats against the San Diego Padres at Minute Maid Park, May 9, 2010 in Houston. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Parker — the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city — shot back at Berkman on Twitter:

Lance Berkman played in St. Louis. Guess his girls didn't go to his games! SL has a non-discrimination ordinance.-A https://t.co/gzEbKIYOd9

— Annise Parker (@AnniseParker) October 5, 2015

"Lance Berkman played in St. Louis," Parker tweeted. "Guess his girls didn't go to his games! SL has a non-discrimination ordinance."

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

Parker also called Berkman a "hypocrite":

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

Campaign for Houston PAC spokesman Jared Woodfill insisted that Parker is out of line.

"She is using her high office to intimidate people that would stand against an ordinance that she supports," Woodfill told KHOU-TV.

Parker's office added in a follow-up statement to the station: "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."

Berkman didn't returned a request for comment to KHOU.

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Follow Dave Urbanski (@DaveVUrbanski) on Twitter