Two Miami-Dade cites kicked off 2010 on a good note by passing pro-equality legislation. On Jan. 13, the City of Miami Beach unanimously approved a revised—and stronger—human rights ordinance. The very next day, the City of South Miami followed suit by passing a Domestic Partner Ordinance extending health insurance to domestic partners of city employees.
The Miami Beach ordinance strengthens the language and enforcement options when fighting discrimination in the city. It passed a first reading in October, 17 years after Miami Beach became the first city in South Florida to pass a human rights ordinance. The new language doesn’t just update the rules. It creates a Miami Beach Human Rights Commission to serve as an enforcing and advisory body with the power to reprimand businesses that violate the ordinance and revoke licenses from repeat offenders.
South Miami’s Domestic Partnership Ordinance has been in the works for two years and is the city’s first-ever pro-LGBT legislation. It was cosponsored by South Miami Mayor Horace G. Feliu and City Commissioner Valerie Newman. Commissioners Velma Palmer and Lew Sellars voted against the ordinance.
