Put sex orientation bill on November ballot, Jacksonville councilman says

[Tacachale]

This is utterly sad - an elected legislator trying to get out of voting on legislation.

This kind of thing shows you where we're at on a very important issue. We can't ignore this.

Submitted by Steve Patterson on May 16, 2012 - 4:03pm PolitiJax

Jacksonville City Councilman Doyle Carter says he wants a referendum held this fall on legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual preference.

"I just think it's an important issue and the citizens of the city should vote on it, not 19 people," Carter said, referring to the council.

He said he plans to offer substitute legislation calling for a November referendum when the council Committee on Recreation, Community Development, Public Health and Safety meets in early June.

If he's successful, Carter's plan would replace a bill that Councilman Warren Jones introduced last week to expand the city's human rights ordinance to include sexual orientation or sexual identity.

The human rights ordinance prevents discrimination in hiring, promotions, and access to housing and public accommodations like restaurants and hotels.

Carter said the November general election would become a default date for the referendum because issues for the fall primary have to be filed with the elections office in early June, before the full council is scheduled to act on the legislation.

He said the general election, which traditionally has high turnout levels, seemed to him a better time to tackle the question anyway.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/steve-patterson/2012-05-16/put-sex-orientation-bill-november-ballot-jacksonville

[WmNussbaum]

While we're at it, might as well put school integration on the ballot too.

Councilman Carter, pick up a dictionary and look up the word "leadership,"

[Ajax]

Maybe one of our intrepid local reporters could just ask Mr. Carter where he stands on the issue.  Just so, you know, it doesn't look like he's trying to avoid taking a position.   

[Jimmy]

Since this isn't a charter amendment or a tax issue, it doesn't belong on the November ballot.

The City's ordinance code, which is where the human rights provisions exist, can't be amended by referendum. 

[finehoe]

The City's ordinance code, which is where the human rights provisions exist, can't be amended by referendum.

Telling that our esteemed Councilman doesn't seem to know this.

[Ralph W]

Hey, take it easy on the poor boy. He's new at this job and OJT's a bitch.

[Anti redneck]

If you ask me, it sounds like an attempt to try and keep the issue off the table.

Why is gay rights bad again?

[Garden guy]

If you ask me, it sounds like an attempt to try and keep the issue off the table.

Why is gay rights bad again?

Its bad to many  of the councilmen...especially the southern baptist ones ...and      we all know they have a special seat at the hand of a god somwhere.

[sheclown]

cowardly act

[urbaknight]

Maybe he's implying that council won't or can't pass the bill themselves.

This good ol boy network here in JAX needs to be brought down and completely disassembled!

[Springfield Chicken]

I'm confused.  Is the Councilman suggesting that if the majority of voters believe it's okay to do something morally wrong then that makes it okay?  Did he use the same logic in the '60's when segregation was the issue?  If, back then, there was a vote and the majority of Jacksonville wanted to discriminate against blacks then he would have supported their decision?

[duvaldude08]

They are a bunch of cowards. Again a big city that can deal with "big" city issues. And that Kim Daniels is an absolute nutcase. This has nothing to do with religion. This has to do with equal treatment. Nowhere does the bible state that homosexuals should be outcast of society.

[finehoe]

Nowhere does the bible state that homosexuals should be outcast of society.

And even if it did, we base our laws on the Constitution, not the Bible.

[WmNussbaum]

It's nice that we've all - mostly all - dissed this stupid idea, but what would count for something is if some of us would show up at the next Council meeting and say so into the record. It doubtful if Carter or many of the Councilmembers read this forum or care what a bunch of folks say that is not really public, i.e., no press around to report to the city at large.

Show up and sound off!

[Tacachale]

Agreed! UNF will be well represented there.