Jacksonville- Two beach communities near Jacksonville—Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach—are producing mixed results in their efforts to show support for some LGBT equality issues.
On Feb. 10, the Atlantic Beach City Commissioners voted 4-1 to pass a resolution endorsing the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, a bill currently being considered in the state legislature and would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity along with its expression in employment, housing and public accommodation. But on Feb. 24, the Commissioners opted to defer a resolution that would have created a Human Rights Ordinance for Atlantic Beach that would protect the city’s LGBT community from discrimination in those same areas. That measure is postponed to their next meeting, exact date to be determined as of press time, but expected to be scheduled around mid-March.
In the meantime, Neptune Beach has faced some roadblocks in their efforts to approve a resolution supporting the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, identical to the one passed by Atlantic Beach Feb. 10. The City Council discussed the resolution but ultimately postponed it, and according to city clerk Lisa Volpe, they’re going to re-word it, look at it again at a workshop on March 17. A potential vote could be held at the next regular meeting April 7.
Neptune Beach Mayor Harriet Pruette, who introduced the resolution, said she was “disappointed” it wasn’t received more favorably.
“I believe [the resolution] was an easy issue, not an ordinance, not changing our laws, but just telling the state to do their job,” she said. “It makes our city look small when you can’t even pass a resolution.”
Pruette said she needs two other council members to support the resolution for it to go forward, and she believes she has those votes.
“Let’s face it, there are some elected officials that don’t want to touch it and I don’t think that’s right,” Pruette said. “We have to look at controversial issues and stand up and show leadership. I think we have to do what we were elected to do, which is listen to our constituents.”
