ense one. lesson of Equal This is "essentially a direction that all persons similarly situated should be treated alike." City of Cleburne, Texas v. Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432, 440 (1985)(citation omitted); Houston, 214 F.3d John Corp. v. City of 573, 577 (5th Cir. 2000Xcitation omittedX"The Equal Protection