Bill banning discrimination based on sexual orientation to be filed at Jacksonvi

[finehoe]

Put me in the "it's about time" camp as well.

I'd just like to note that everyone has a sexual orientation.  To characterize the bill as

Legislation to ban anti-gay discrimination

when it is in fact

forbidding discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations...based on a person's sexual orientation or sexual identity

plays into the bigot's idea that gay people are seeking "special rights" when all they want is the same treatment as everyone else.  A small point, but an important one.

[Jimmy]

That's exactly right, finehoe.  A small point that's important.  We have a new restaurant opening in town called Hamburger Mary's.  It would be just as odious if the management there wanted to exclude straight workers or patrons based on their hetero sexual orientation.  Sometimes the phrase "reserve discrimination" gets bandied about, or as I like to call it, discrimination.

Everyone has a sexual orientation.  Everyone has a gender identity.

(I can't imagine HM doing this - it's just for illustrative purposes.)

[Tacachale]

It is WELL past time for this. At UNF we've lost a lot of good candidates for jobs because the city lacks these basic protections. Various companies in town have experienced the same. This kind of injustice affects everyone.

[Jimmy]

I suspect that's a major reason that John Delaney and Steve Halverson are so committed to this issue.  Steve tells the story of an executive he really wanted for Haskell who wouldn't come to Jacksonville because of the perception of intolerance.  Delaney has overseen the passage of these policy changes at UNF for their staff, with great impact.

[Jimmy]

Nice, the TU has posted a video of Steve Halverson explaining the need for this ordinance...

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/406107/mike-clark/2012-05-01/haskell-ceo-explains-why-anti-discrimination-ordinance

Says the TU: Three major civic figures visited the Times-Union editorial board Monday to explain why they are supporting the inclusion of gays to Jacksonville's anti-discrimination ordinance.

UNF President John Delaney, Baptist Health CEO Hugh Greene and Haskell CEO Steve Halverson explained why it's bad for business to allow gays to be discriminated against legally in Jackslnville.

[konstantconsumer]

Any update from the Mayor's office?  He hasn't commented on it yet, which is worrisome.

[Jimmy]

People are talking to the Mayor and I think he's being very careful to get this right.  "No comment yet" is better than "no." 

But in the meantime, the Business Journal is reporting that 12 Chairs of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce have come out today with a letter in support of the measure.  The business community is leading on this.  Surely the political folks will follow.

"A dozen former chairs of the Jacksonville Regional CHamber of Commerce have sided with the current chair and chair-elect in support of city legislation that would ban discrimination against gay or transgender people in Jacksonville.
In a letter to Mayor Alvin Brown and the Jacksonville City Council, the group expressed support of legislation that was filed by City Councilman Warren Jones."  Much more at: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2012/05/03/anti-discrimination-legislation.html

[Tacachale]

Jacksonville mayor silent about bill banning discrimination against sexual orientation


Submitted by Timothy Gibbons on May 3, 2012 - 12:31pm PolitiJax


Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown won't take a position on City Council legislation banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, although supporters remember candidate Brown strongly favoring such a bill.

Brown refused to comment Thursday night because he said he hasn't seen the recently introduced ordinance.

"It's such an important issue I don't want to speculate or assume anything," Brown said during a brief conversation following an appearance at a parade for the Jacksonville Giants.

When provided a description of the bill â€" it expands the list of protected classes by six words â€" Brown said that wasn't enough for him to form an opinion.

"It's got to come to council," he said. "I haven't seen it. I don't want to speculate."

But some of those who supported Brown's campaign last year remember a much different answer when he was asked on the trail about expanding the anti-discrimination ordinance.

"That's the reason I voted for him, one of the main reasons," said Jack Slaughter, who played host to a Brown fundraiser attended mainly by gay and lesbian supporters. "As a supporter that gave him money, I think it's a big deal."

Slaughter's nephew, Adam Beaugh, has similar memories, both of the fundraiser and of earlier conversations.

Beaugh worked for mayoral candidate Audrey Moran, and when she lost in the first round of voting, met with Brown's campaign. Beaugh said he asked about the ordinance right off the bat and was told Brown supported it.

"He straight up said it would be a priority for his administration," Beaugh said. "He made it sound like he'd go to the City Council members and try to convince them to support it."

They are not alone in those memories. In a blog post about the impact lesbian, gay and bisexual voters had on Brown's victory, Equality Florida Field Director Joe Saunders singles out the candidate's support of the issue as a reason Brown won.

"Brown's position supporting an inclusive human rights ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT's was a motivating clarion call," he writes.

The bill filed Wednesday updates the city's anti-discrimination laws by adding the phrase "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" to the list of things â€" race, gender, age religion, nationality â€" that are specifically forbidden as grounds for discrimination. It would protect people in situations involving employment, housing and service at places like restaurants and hotels.

It is strongly supported by a series of former elected officials and current business executives.

Moran herself, one of those championing the legislation, remembers Brown supporting it at a campaign event. Now, she said, she thinks he will reiterate that position.

"We feel his pro-business stance bodes very well for his support of this legislation," she said.

But Brown remembers the campaign event, hosted by the Urban League, differently.

He said Thursday he was trying to express that "I don't support racism or discrimination and we don't need to do another study on diversity nor discrimination."

Brown was first asked about his position on the legislation shortly before a National Day of Prayer ceremony at City Hall at noon Thursday.

He declined then to discuss the issue. "I'm getting ready for this," he said, gesturing at the gathering crowd.

Brown urged a reporter to set up a meeting later where he said he'd be willing to discuss the issue, but there was not time on his calendar Thursday afternoon.

City Councilman Warren Jones, who filed the bill, said earlier the legislation was significant to attract businesses and was "a matter of conscience" aimed at discrimination generally.

On Monday, Jones said, Brown called and expressed concerns that were mostly about the bill's timing. He said the mayor had told advocates he wanted to be sure there was a bipartisan consensus before trying to change the law.

He said Brown was surprised to learn Jones planned to file the legislation and expressed "disappointment" he hadn't been told earlier. The mayor reiterated that disappointment Thursday.

"Not one leader, no one has called me about it," he said. "An issue of this magnitude and no one called me."

Earlier this week, former Mayor John Delaney said an assistant had reached out to Brown to set up a time to talk. Brown said Thursday that if Delaney had called, he would call him back.

Brown might have more interlocutors show up in the days ahead. Adding their support to the legislation Thursday were 12 former chairs of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as the current chair and chair-elect.

[Jimmy]

More good news out tonight about this work.

From the TU:

A push to ban discrimination in Jacksonville based on sexual orientation gained some faith-based support Monday as 25 religious leaders asked Mayor Alvin Brown to back legislation being introduced this evening to the City Council.
“It’s about jobs, and it’s about fairness, so I don’t really see what the issue is here,” said Tara Trueblood, director of the University of North Florida Interfaith Center.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-05-07/story/25-religious-leaders-asked-jacksonville-mayor-support-gay-anti#ixzz1uFOV0Lbl

Their reporting tonight included the strongest public statement of support for this new ordinance from the Mayor so far:

“I will fight discrimination in any form in our city. And I will consider any effort that makes Jacksonville a safer and better place for people to live and work."

[Steve_Lovett]

Why do we seem to need to justify every argument by claiming "it's about jobs", or "it benefits the economy"?

We should make decisions because they are right.

Whether you agree with the lifestyle choices people make or not, discrimination is WRONG. It should never be tolerated. There's a difference between endorsement and anti-discrimination.

The fact that the Mayor has spent weeks unwilling to say "I don't support discrimination of anyone for any reason" is troubling.

 

[simms3]

^^^Agreed.  Sounds like he is trying to play both sides of the aisle?  He's in office, it's still early, and it's not time to campaign yet!

I haven't been impressed with Brown yet, and this is just another example why.

[Timkin]

I can count  3 "No" votes - Redman, Daniels, and Yarborough.  I hope they are the minority.

And good work Jimmy, and all who are working on this.

Discrimination against anyone, is bad for everyone.

Yeah Daniels is going to chunk the bible across the room when she hears this. 

LMAO!  She probably will!   

[Tacachale]

It's nice that the mayor says he'll "fight discrimination"; it would be nicer if he'd actually take a strong stance in favor of the ordinance. This is a clear cut issue, it's not something a public servant with a career ahead of him should want to be on the wrong side of.

I can count  3 "No" votes - Redman, Daniels, and Yarborough.  I hope they are the minority.

And good work Jimmy, and all who are working on this.

Discrimination against anyone, is bad for everyone.

Yeah Daniels is going to chunk the bible across the room when she hears this. 

LMAO!  She probably will!   

You might be surprised.

Why do we seem to need to justify every argument by claiming "it's about jobs", or "it benefits the economy"?

We should make decisions because they are right.

Whether you agree with the lifestyle choices people make or not, discrimination is WRONG. It should never be tolerated. There's a difference between endorsement and anti-discrimination.

The fact that the Mayor has spent weeks unwilling to say "I don't support discrimination of anyone for any reason" is troubling.

 

The practical reasons to be for this just supplement the moral reasons. They make it easier to see that real people are involved and that this kind of injustice affects everyone.

[Ajax]

I just want to add my voice to those who are disappointed with the lack of leadership from the Mayor on this issue.  And I'm one of his supporters.  Mayor Brown's silence speaks volumes. 

[duvaldude08]

The reason he seems to be playing both sides of the fence and really not commenting is simple. His religous beliefs and is what is right for the city are in conflict. He knows that if he says the wrong thing or do the wrong thing, he will have a bad image the rest of his tenure. Especially being the fact that he went up to the gay clubs and greeted people when he was trying to get elected. I cant really say Im disappointed because he has not said anything. I think at times its best to be silent and keep your mouth shut. Hopefully, he does the right thing.