Taking the HRO change to Atlantic Beach

[James Eddy]

Wanted to update any one that's interested in the changing the HRO here in North Florida. The Jacksonville Coalition for Equality is taking the issue to the beaches community. We are first bringing it to the Atlantic Beach Commission. Currently the member of the Navy at Mayport have protection that covers sexual orientation under current military law. But local residents have no protection. The first workshop is Nov 25. Please show your support. Here some ways you can help.

On Monday, November 25, at 6:30 PM, a Human Rights Ordinance is scheduled to be introduced at the Atlantic Beach City Commission Workshop meeting. The Commission meets in the Commission Chamber at 800 Seminole Road in Atlantic Beach. The phone number is (904) 247-5809.

The Human Rights Ordinance includes protection against discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or veteran's status, in housing, employment and places of public accommodation.

We hope that you can show your support for this ordinance by:
• attending the meeting on 11/25 at 6:30,
• emailing or calling all commissioners,
• finding other citizens and businesses in Atlantic Beach and the surrounding, communities to show support for this important initiative and
• forwarding this email to like minded people.
Please find contact information for the current City Commissioners.

Incoming Mayor and Commissioners

To reach all commissioners at once: electedofficials@coab.us

Carolyn Woods (incoming mayor, current council member) cwoods@coab.us (904) 241-8973
Maria Mark (Commissioner/bill sponsor) mmark@coab.us (904) 707-3584
Mark Beckenbach (Commissioner) mbeckenbach@coab.us (904) 536-5355
Jonathan Daugherty (Commissioner) jdaugherty@coab.us (904) 859-2469
Jimmy Hill (Commissioner on 11/12) jhill@coab.us (904) 859-2469

What should I say when I contact the commissions in Atlantic Beach?

Talking Points for the Human Rights Ordinance in Atlantic Beach
General information: Commissioners Woods, Mark, Daugherty and Beckenbach have expressed enthusiastic support for the Human Rights Ordinance. You may want to leave your address, email address, profession, community involvement and or phone number so the commissioner can contact you.

Please be polite and respectful during all communications.

Phone Calls:
Hello, my name is___________. I am calling to encourage you to please support the Human Rights Ordinance in Atlantic Beach. It will prohibit discrimination against residents based on their veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. These are groups which are not currently covered in Jacksonville's statutes. Currently residents may be fired from a job, denied housing and access to public accommodation simply because of their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression or because of their status as a veteran. I hope I can count on you to support this important ordinance. Thank you for taking time to speak with me.

Emails:

Tips for email:

Please keep it short and simple, the council members receive lots of email. You can email all of the commissioners at once at electedofficials@coab.us. Ask others you know especially those who live in Atlantic Beach to send the commissioners an email or forward this email to them.

Below is a template email. You can personalize it or create your own

My name is _____________and I live in Atlantic Beach at (Address). I am writing to encourage you to support a Human Rights Ordinance that includes protection from discrimination based on veteran's status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
No one should be fired from a job, denied housing or access to public accommodation because of their veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
Share a personal story if you have one or why this matters to you.
Please support the Human Rights Ordinance in Atlantic Beach. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,

Your name, Your address, and your phone number


We will be moving forward. If we can not get protection for the whole of Jacksonville right now at least we can get protection for some of Duval County. This issue will be brought back to Jacksonville City Council in 2015. So vote for candidates in support of the HRO changes here in Jacksonville.

[James Eddy]

We need your help to get the word out on this. Even if you do not live at Atlantic Beach but you shop, play or work there this effects you. You can call or email, tell your friends show up Monday at Atlantic Beach City Hall in support wear red.

[James Eddy]

This starts this Monday night we need supporters.