Live Blogging City Council. main issue: bill 2012-296, human rights bill

[Tacachale]

^What company are you with, DD?

[duvaldude08]

^What company are you with, DD?

Check ur inbox

[tufsu1]

Who was the lawyer against an anti-discrimination bill?

I believe he works for the Florida Famioly Council

[Jimmy]

Who was the lawyer against an anti-discrimination bill?

I believe he works for the Florida Famioly Council

He's John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council.  He lives in Orlando and makes his living bashing gays in Court.  I don't think he's read our rules of the Florida Bar.  (No, I'm being flip, I know that even the Klan got to hire zealous advocates, so why not the modern-day version?)

[fsquid]

The thinking of some people in this city really baffles me. At my job I am the lead over one of our employee resource groups, which is the black leadership forum. We have one that is for gays and trangenders also. However, they have not been active in years and I talk to the lead he does not care to even bring it back up because of all the negative feedback the company was getting. At one point, we were allowed to pass out information to employees. Well employees became "offended"by been offering information and emails begin flying to HR quoting bible scripctures and stated they could not believe that our company supported such an initiative. Really? There is a resource group for blacks, asians, veterans and the disabled. But its wrong for us to have one for gay employees?

we just have a diversity group.  We don't really have one that pinpoints a certain race

[duvaldude08]

The thinking of some people in this city really baffles me. At my job I am the lead over one of our employee resource groups, which is the black leadership forum. We have one that is for gays and trangenders also. However, they have not been active in years and I talk to the lead he does not care to even bring it back up because of all the negative feedback the company was getting. At one point, we were allowed to pass out information to employees. Well employees became "offended"by been offering information and emails begin flying to HR quoting bible scripctures and stated they could not believe that our company supported such an initiative. Really? There is a resource group for blacks, asians, veterans and the disabled. But its wrong for us to have one for gay employees?

we just have a diversity group.  We don't really have one that pinpoints a certain race

Yeah were the oppisite. We dont have a diveristy committee, but we have diveristy recongintion month. Then we have the business resource groups or employee resource groups (some companies use different names). FORD is another company that has them also.

[sheclown]

Thanks MJ for doing this live blog!

[Cheshire Cat]

I surely wish this piece could have been shared before the last vote on this issue.  It is heartfelt and in my view the words of a truly brave individual looking at past choices made.  A lot to be learned here.

http://www.upworthy.com/must-watch-a-politician-loses-it-and-restores-my-faith-in-humanity?c=O98

Thanks Charles Hunter for sharing this.

[spuwho]

Definition of TOLERANCE

1: capacity to endure pain or hardship : endurance, fortitude, stamina
2a : sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own
2b : the act of allowing something : toleration
3: the allowable deviation from a standard;

Definition of ACCEPTANCE
1: an agreeing either expressly or by conduct to the act or offer of another so that a contract is concluded and the parties become legally bound

Two unique and distinct concepts.

One can tolerate but not accept. But if one must accept something they can't tolerate, that is something completely different.

[Tacachale]

That's just parsing. At any rate, the only thing anyone would have to "accept" with the HRO is that discrimination is unacceptable.

[spuwho]

No parsing was attempted. They are used interchangeably in many discussions on the subject.

I was just highlighting that they aren't the same.