Taking the Right Stand in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners will revisit the issue on Wednesday morning at 10:15AM to ‘bar discrimination for sexual orientation countywide.’ This is and has been a constant heated battle for the county. In 1991 Hillsborough Commissioners added countywide sexual orientation protection and 4 years later in 1995 rescinded that order.
The City of Tampa has sexual orientation protection and transgender protection rights. City of Tampa also has enacted a “Domestic Partnership Registry”. Also across the bridge in Pinellas County passed without any opposition Sexual orientation protection for all Pinellas County which has always been noted a more conservative county than Hillsborough.
The country has had a change in attitude and opinion about sexual orientation protection and on the Same-Sex Marriage laws issue. 20 States and the District of Columbia have passed laws and recognize legalized same sex marriages. Over 60 percent Americans are more favorable to Same Sex Marriage than 6 years ago. The federal government will have to step in and address the equality of marriage issue very soon.
Mean while please attend the Wednesday morning meeting and show support for equality. Commisioners Kevin Beckner, Les Miller, Mark Sharpe have affirmed in statements a change of adding nondiscrimination to the county law. Meaning adding sexual orientation for equality for all citizens throughout Hillsborough County..
For 7 years GaYBOR District Coalition former President Carrie West had asked County Commissioners to sign a GaYBOR Days Proclamation that showcased the associations positive growth in historic Ybor City as had President Barrack Obama, US House of Representative Cathy Castor, Florida House Rep Janet Cruz, all members of Tampa City Council and Tampa Mayors’ Pam Iorio and present Mayor Bob Buckhorn had signed Commendations and Proclamations for GaYBOR Days events. Five commissioners refused for 6 years to acknowledge the revitalizing Historic Ybor City business group. Then realizing that 60% of the GaYBOR District Coalition positive growth and efforts was made up of straight alliance business members and big financial players. National and local media covered the story.
It was last year in 2013 that with GaYBOR help, Commissioner Kevin Beckner had a commission board stand off! All the commissioners joined in signing the GaYBOR Proclamation and further had a rescinding the 2005 law of not ‘acknowledging, promoting or financing Gay Pride in Hillsborough County.’
*** Noted it is now with a capital “G” and capital “P”! Radical Cty Commissioner “r”honda “s”torm had stated it was going to be little “g” and small “p” for Gay Pride back in 2005!
Candidates at GLBTA Dem Caucus
Candidates for Florida House District 61 ( Betty Reed’s old seat) talked to the Hill Cty GLBTA Democratic Caucus Wednesday night at JJ’s Cafe in GaYBOR! A terrific number of concerned voters and members were there. Candidates attending the ‘candidate sound off’ were Sharon Carter, Ed Narain and Tatiana Denson. Some questions were truly a new surprise to the candidates.
Economic development needs for the district was very well handled and scripted as well as education dollars going to the average to below state average schools in the district. State minimum wage was talked about and mixed in any one decision. But in regards to where they would put sexual orientation and same sex marriage on their state sponsored bill authoring. A little silence was in the air! All the candidates didn’t have a priority for any GLBT issues. This question was brought up by businessman & community activist Carrie West.
” I wanted to know their personal feelings on GLBT concerns as an elected state representative and they all him, hummed and bawked at the question.” West noticed. Other reporters attending took similar note in there papers articles.
” It is a new national feeling out there for GLBT citizens and Florida seems to be lacking in state legislative authored GLBT ideas.”
Other candidate races attending were Pat Kemp running for Hillsborough County Commission Countywide District 7 and Hillsborough Cty Board of Education candidate Michael Weston.
In other business St. Pete Pride was very successful for the political group in the parade and also the Sunday Pride Festival. A round of applause went to St. Pete Pride Organization PFLAG Grand Marshals Lefty & Nancy Desmond.
The Florida GLBT State Democratic Caucus has its upcoming Summer Membership Meeting and Conference, held July 18 – 20, 2014, in Melbourne, Florida!
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