Live blogging the vote for 2012-296, human rights ordinance.

[AshleyLauren]

I'm going to guess no younger than 12 but no older than 16-17.

[cityimrov]

Hopefully, history is made tonight.

Unless they delay it to the next meeting or convert the bill into something else, either way, history will be made.  For or against, each can only help Jacksonville. 

[fsquid]

I'm going to guess no younger than 12 but no older than 16-17.

If they are high schoolers I'm ok with it.  Younger than that, the parents should be ashamed of themselves.

[Jimmy]

To be as clear as I can, I will post the paragraph that Councilman Yarborough referred to, which is a matter of public record. It was not the offer of a bribe; it was essentially the same message being sent to Councilmembers by the opponents of 296.

If someone can find the offer of a bribe in this, please point it out to me:

"I know that you have voted against 296 in Committee, or have otherwise indicated that you cannot support the bill, even as substituted.  I ask you to please consider changing your mind tomorrow night, or consider abstaining from the vote.  I am not asking you to compromise your principles, but I am asking you to consider that you have been elected to represent every person in Jacksonville on questions like this.  I guarantee that you represent gays and lesbians who are looking to you to share their burden right now and make their journey through Jacksonville just a little easier.  You have friends or family or customers or neighbors who are gay and lesbian and who are asking for your help right now.  Help us now and we will remember your help each and every time you put your name forward for election to public office.  We will help you then.

No matter what happens tomorrow night I appreciate your service to our great City.  There is a tough road ahead with the budget, the economy, the pension, and discussions about public safety.  I pray for your health and for your wisdom in the coming days and weeks as you work through some difficult decisions."

[AshleyLauren]

Here we go,


Lumb, 296 is not about sending the right message.  Lumb believes 296 is not clear. This has nothing to do with basic human rights, it is about basic protection, and whether the level of discrimination has risen to the levels a group needs to be considered a protected class. Lumb points out that what is happening to the LGBT community is in no way equivalent to what happens to African Americans fifty years ago.

Yarborough- no substantial evidence has been provided to support the change of languages. Believes the added language is unconstitutional. Yarborough points out, allegedly, Jimmy Midyette offered his and his organization full support for the next election. Yarborough states, "This council member's vote is not for sale." The risk is too great, and lacks fluid. This is a solution in search of a problem.

Anderson-I am a Christian. The bill is not perfect, however it recognized many of our citizens are feeling pain. This bill is strongly supported by the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Council as a part of job growth. This bill provides large enough tent to shade all of Jacksonville. Let it end here, we have many battles ahead of us. I will support the bill.

Gulliford- The passing of this bill would not stop the discrimination or even detour it. This legislation goes too far.

Jones-Stands to support the bill. He appreciates the council's patience. It may look like this bill is divisive. This is the first step to create a society empowered by redress. I ask you to support the substitute.

Lee- Call to question. Fails.

Redman-I rise to not support the substitute or the bill. Throughout his later years he has watched the rapid deterioration of the community and people's morals code based on the passing of bills like these. This bill will affect our children and our grandchildren.

Daniels-Asks them not to support the bill. Sexual orientation, sexual expression, all bad language.

Subsitute Vote: 10 nays 9 yays.
Original Vote:

[AshleyLauren]

Original bill was put down 17 to 2.

Members of the opposing side leaped in a loud uproar and one member of the supporting side left screaming at the City Council members.

Most of the room is leaving now. The looks on the faces of the members of the LGBT community is saddening.

[fsquid]

17-2?  Jesus

[TheCat]

One vote. Interesting.

[AshleyLauren]

17-2?  Jesus

On the original bill that was entirely expected. On the substitute, I am pretty sure they were expecting it to be the opposite of how it just unfolded. Among the no's were: Lumb, Gulliford, Daniels, Yarborough, Redman, I think Bishop, Brown, Anderson, Boyer and I am not sure who the 10th vote came from.

[TheCat]

If you want to read bill...

http://cityclts.coj.net/coj/COJBillList.asp?Bill=2012-0296

[AshleyLauren]

To be as clear as I can, I will post the paragraph that Councilman Yarborough referred to, which is a matter of public record. It was not the offer of a bribe; it was essentially the same message being sent to Councilmembers by the opponents of 296.

If someone can find the offer of a bribe in this, please point it out to me:

"I know that you have voted against 296 in Committee, or have otherwise indicated that you cannot support the bill, even as substituted.  I ask you to please consider changing your mind tomorrow night, or consider abstaining from the vote.  I am not asking you to compromise your principles, but I am asking you to consider that you have been elected to represent every person in Jacksonville on questions like this.  I guarantee that you represent gays and lesbians who are looking to you to share their burden right now and make their journey through Jacksonville just a little easier.  You have friends or family or customers or neighbors who are gay and lesbian and who are asking for your help right now.  Help us now and we will remember your help each and every time you put your name forward for election to public office.  We will help you then.

No matter what happens tomorrow night I appreciate your service to our great City.  There is a tough road ahead with the budget, the economy, the pension, and discussions about public safety.  I pray for your health and for your wisdom in the coming days and weeks as you work through some difficult decisions."

I did not realize that, you scratch my back and I will scratch yours, is considered bribing someone these days. It's how the world works. It is not bribery!

[Tacachale]

This is the saddest, most disheartening council vote I've seen in a long time. And given the current sorry state of affairs, that's really saying something.

Condemnation goes first and foremost to the ten City Council members who fell to willful ignorance, bigotry, moral weakness, and in several cases, outright stupidity and voted down a bill that should have passed at a glance.

Right behind them is our pitiable Mayor, whose pathetic and cowardly refusal to stand up for this bill will not soon be forgotten. I've never been so disappointed with a mayor in all my life.

Next come the organized bigots who, through the force of their volume, made our elected leaders kowtow to their regressive interests. Not to mention the religious Pharisees who abused scripture, or their interpretation of it, to demean and belittle an entire segment of the populace.

Accolades go to the nine council members who did not break under the pressure and stood up for what's right. I am especially proud of my father and all the others who publicly pushed for this bill, though they had absolutely nothing to gain personally. Would that there were more men and women of their character in this city.

This isn't over. Justice will reign in the end.

[fsquid]

so how does one get it reintroduced?

[AshleyLauren]

After the vote a woman leaned over and asked me which side I was on, upon answering her question, she explained her biggest issue with the bill was that anyone could pretend to be lesbian or gay and therefore be a part of this protected class. I cannot begin to express how ridiculous this statement is.


I am sure thoughts/comments about this bill will be ongoing, and the hurt inflicted by this vote will be felt until the council and the LGBT community meet again.

It is severely distressing that after months of conversation, meetings, news articles, arguments, and explanations that individuals in this city still did not know what this bill would do for our city, for members of our city. The ten members of the City Council that voted against the substitute should be ashamed of themselves. The original bill, perhaps, was too fast. Perhaps, the original bill was too much for the members to deal with right away; however, the substitute had been whittled and watered down until basically nothing of the original was left and even that posed too severe of a threat for the religious partisans of this city to sway.

The city should be offended, the city should be ashamed, the city should take heed and remember this in the months to come.

To the LGBT community, Again, I stand in awe of your struggle and your strength. My respect and thoughts are with you as you mourn your loss, and then breathe and reboot. Jimmy Midyette has already expressed his feelings on behalf of the Jacksonville Committee for Equality that they are not finished and they intend to press on.

In the words of Timkin, For now "Mayberry Lives".

[Charles Hunter]

Ashley, well said ... except you are insulting the town of Mayberry.