HRO II - The Reckoning

[ben america]

As the new Mayor (MLC) takes office and the Supreme Court's (SCOTUS) ruling on marriage coincide, questions regarding the Clerk's office and it's policy on performing weddings as well as the city's Human Rights Ordinance (HRO) in light of the decision began circulating today

Curry issued a public statement which included a promise to lead the debate among stakeholders. Councilmember Hazzouri (CTH) said that it wasn't complicated and needed to get done.

There are indications based on the answers given to the question about HRO during the campaign by MLC where frequently the wording included members of the religious and business communites as stakeholders in the discussion. The language used can be interpreted to say that a MLC led HRO effort is likely to produce a version that includes strong business and religious exemptions.

Is CTH posturing for a Council led effort? And will that effort push for a clean HRO, meaning free of exemptions or mediation requirements?

[Tacachale]

You know, you're not on Twitter, you don't need to use confusing abbreviations.

Everything I've heard from Curry's folks is that he's supportive of, or at least amenable to an HRO. In the very least I think we can expect he won't stand in the way of one, as his predecessor did.

The question will be the Council. We have 9 if not 10 people who openly support an HRO, but they will have to hammer out specific wording. That will mean agreeing on scope, exemptions, and consequences for disobeying the law. There are at least 5 or 6 staunch opponents to the bill, who will be try to exploit the confusion.

[ben america]

The signals for exemptions are strong. I will be happy to be wrong. Unlike 296, a new HRO should provide equal access and not attempt to add an alternative process for specific complaint types.

[spuwho]

A reckoning? Probably not.

I have read the proposed HRO front to back.  There are parts I don't think anyone would have an issue with, however, there are other sections that just aren't practical or supportable, especially in human resources or in business accommodation. Knowing the updates to the political climate nationally, I would foresee some level of modifications as it is written today.

Allowing input from the community is a great thing, just as long as it includes all of the community, not just those with religious views.

As far as predicting exemption language, I think its too soon to tell.

[ben america]

As I read it, the 296 compromise bill added Sexual Orientation as a protected class, however, their complaints were assigned to a mediation process which differed from the process of other complaints. Were there other significant differences that differed from the treatment of other protected classes?

[Jimmy]

No, there was no difference for legal remedy, at least not with the original 2012-296.  The JHRC has the mediation -- it's called conciliation in this vernacular -- as a remedy for all complaints.  The amended 296 did 3 bad things: 1) removed references to gender identity, 2) greatly expanded religious exemptions, and 3) forced complaints based on sexual orientation to stop with conciliation. Without the "threat" of further legal process, this took the teeth out of enforcement.  However, the circuit court would have quickly had a case before it to invalidate that third bad thing because you can't protect a class then deny them due process available to other classes.

But that's beside the point.  We are on-track to a clean, comprehensive HRO bill after the budget is wrangled and wrestled.  Anyone you ask wants it dealt with before 2016 muddies the political waters.

[icarus]

"HRO MEETING IMMINENT BETWEEN JAX COALITION FOR EQUALITY, LENNY CURRY ADMINISTRATION"

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/189266-hro-meeting-imminent-between-jax-coalition-for-equality-lenny-curry-administration

This administration just seems to be getting things done. Its a nice change.

[Tacachale]

"HRO MEETING IMMINENT BETWEEN JAX COALITION FOR EQUALITY, LENNY CURRY ADMINISTRATION"

http://floridapolitics.com/archives/189266-hro-meeting-imminent-between-jax-coalition-for-equality-lenny-curry-administration

This administration just seems to be getting things done. Its a nice change.

Terrific news.

[whyisjohngalt]

Marginalized liability is a plus and a decent compromise.

Isn't this supposedly going to let Jax compete for corporate interest?  Do the other states offer legislative, transgender "protection"?

[Tacachale]

Marginalized liability is a plus and a decent compromise.

Isn't this supposedly going to let Jax compete for corporate interest?  Do the other states offer legislative, transgender "protection"?

The type of cities we'd like to be a peer to certainly do.

[whyisjohngalt]

The monster truck show and country superfest concerts are the largest attended events downtown.  What are the larges attended events at these "peer" cities?