After listening to Tampa residents for nearly three hours, the Tampa City Council voted to expand its non-discrimination protections to include transgender individuals. The council added “gender identity” to Tampa’s existing human rights ordinance that bans discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation. The measure passed by a 5-1 vote, with Charlie Miranda casting the lone dissenting vote.
Miranda said he was concerned about disruptions at workplaces caused when someone dressed as one gender one day and another gender the next.
Several transgender citizens spoke to the council, explaining that protections were needed and members of the business community—including representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, BB&T Bank and PepsiCo—encouraged the council to pass the ordinance.
Equality Florida was thrilled with the outcome of the vote.
“Equality Florida was born out of the struggle to expand Tampa’s non-discrimination protections so they include the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” said executive director Nadine Smith. “Today’s vote, while long overdue, makes it clear that Tampa is a leader in Florida when it comes to protecting its citizens.”
While the vote was a win for the community, many attending the meeting were against adding protections for transgender citizens. One group even attempted to derail the vote through a letter-writing campaign. That early strike was countered by the work of Hillsborough County’s LGBT Democratic Caucus and Pride Tampa Bay, both of which encourage members to e-mail council members to pass the ordinance.
In all, nearly 3,100 e-mails were sent to the council encouraging them include protections. By comparison, about 1,800 e-mails were sent to council members encouraging them to deny the protections.
Tampa is not alone in adding “gender identity and gender expression” to its non-discrimination ordinance. Many public and private entities offer expanded protections to their citizens and employees.
Tampa joins 16 local government entities including transgender protections. The vote came just one day before the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, which was held at three area locations on Friday, Nov. 20. The annual day of remembrance honors transgender people who have suffered via hate crimes throughout the world and honors Rita Hester, who was murdered on Nov. 28 1999, in San Francisco.
