Human Rights Ordinance in Hillsborough Co. Hearing
The hearing for adding Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity to the ordinances in Hillsborough County was with little fanfare but a step in the right direction. Attendance levels in the commissioners chambers was at least to say ‘mediore’ for those in support & opposited to the historic ordinance change. A major change then just a few years ago in 2005 and in the dual Tampa City Council & Hillsborough County Commissioners hearing at the Tampa Performing Arts Center in 1992.
The commissioners met at the weekly meeting and Commissioner Kevin Beckner educated the other commissioners after dozen speakers spoke in front of the commissioners. A wide variety of reasons the change needs to be added was echoed by the many speakers.
PFLAG Tampa co-chair Lefty Desmonds talked about uniting and understanding families issues that have GLBT children, Ed Lally of Equality Florida enlightened commissioners of his life as he and partner live in Hillsborough and had to go out of state to marry. MCC Rev. Ross Sudder cited religious grounds and for an inclusiveness of equality for citizens in the county, Carrie West, MC FILM talked about the positive change the commissioners took in 2013 regards to GaYBOR District Coalition’s GaYBOR Days Proclamation. Previously for 6 years the commissioners refused to acknowledge or promote the positive accomplishments of the 267 business organization that has 60% straight ally business & organizations memberships. Reveling all the positive economic impact that has been achieved by the coalition in historic Ybor City while other areas of the county faltered during a deep national recession. The GaYBOR Festival weekend had proclamations from President Barack Obama, US House of Representatives Kathy Castor, Florida House of Representatives Janet Cruz, all Tampa City Council members and Tampa’s former Mayor’s Pam Iorio and recently Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.
Conservative advocate Terry Kemple and a number of religious pastors talked about the biblical consequences by reading verses in the Bible.
All of the local media in the area put in their opinions. All were in favor of the change to add Sexual orientation and Gender identity to Hillsborough County Human Rights Ordinance..
Lastly Tampa’s largest law firm CEO and President Gary Sasso from Carlton Fields Law Firm in Tampa talked about the positive evolution that had to take place in his county law firm. Starting with hiring the first Jewish attorney hired to the firm 60 years ago. Then the first Black attorney joined in the 1960’s and the first woman to be on board onto hiring their first Gay attorney that was hired 40 years ago.
State attorney Julianne Holt, Public Defense of Hillsborough County Circuit Court District 13 brought inn letters from the 3 best known companies in the Tampa Bay area. Letters from the owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays and the CEO of Tampa Bay Buccaneers all supporting the addition of Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity to the new Hillsborough County inclusiveness ordinance.
Passing to move forward with a 7-0 vote sending the issue to the Hillsborough County Diversity Council for correct verbiage then onto the county attorney for final reading in front of the commissioners..
