Houston's city attorney issued subpoenas in response to a lawsuit related to the city's new non-discrimination ordinance.

The new law, which has yet to take effect, would, among other things, allow men who identify as women to use restrooms of their choice and vice-versa.

A petition to put this to voters was knocked back, resulting in a lawsuit, and hence the subpoenas.

The pastors are required to hand over any sermons dealing with homosexuality, gender issues or Houston's first openly lesbian mayor Annise Parker.

Although the five pastors are not plantiffs in the lawsuit, they organised the petition, so their sermons are relevant, the city's attorney said.

Critics have charged that the city's move contravenes religious liberty and is an attack on the first amendment to the US constitution.

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