Tampa – It was just over a year ago that Hillsborough County Commissioners voted against the creation of a domestic partnership registry, bucking a trend of governmental organizations offering a handful of protections to unmarried partners, both gay and straight.
And it was nine years ago, in 2005, that the commission voted to ban gay pride in the county by preventing county employees and entities from supporting or sponsoring such events.
So many are surprised to see that at the July 16 County Commission meeting, the board is scheduled to discuss the expansion of the county’s human rights ordinance to protect LGBT people.
The measure was brought before the board by commissioner Kevin Beckner, who believes his counterparts will recognize inequality and want to correct it.
“I am cautiously optimistic,” Beckner told Watermark in an e-mail. “The majority of my colleagues realize the discrepancies for LGBTs.”
Beckner elaborated and said the timing is right for the expansion of the HRO because the commission wants to be more reflective of the community.
“This ordinance will highlight how important it is in our community for everyone to be treated equally,” Beckner added.
Surprisingly, four of the seven commissioners have expressed support for expanding the ordinance to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in hiring, housing and public accommodations, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
The board has shown to be somewhat less conservative on social issues of late. Last summer, the board voted to unanimously repeal the gay pride ban it enacted in 2005, which many see as a sign of progress.
“We are taking small steps forward,” Beckner said, referring to that 2013 vote.
A vote on the HRO is not expected at the July 16 meeting but Beckner said the ordinance will highlight how important it is in the Hillsborough County community for everyone to be treated equally, regardless of their background, sexual orientation or gender identity.
The road to the amendment to the HRO becoming a reality had to start with a discussion and a vote on whether the county attorney should write a draft of the ordinance. Similar ordinances have passed in nearly 20 other cities and counties, including the City of Tampa and Pinellas County.
Plenty of opposition is expected at the meeting.
Conservative activist Terry Kemple is rallying his base before the meeting and was expected to speak against the additions to the HRO. He told the Times that including sexual orientation and gender identity in the HRO was “bad policy. This puts government in the position of trampling on people’s religious liberties in favor of people’s sexual preferences.”
Kemple has been a long-vocal opponent of LGBT rights in Hillsborough County and Tampa. He has also consistently fought against Muslim-affiliated groups from speaking on local campuses and reaching out to students.
Beckner wasn’t surprised at Kemple’s plan to oppose the measure.
“It’s unfortunate that in this time people don’t believe that all people should be treated equally,” he said, adding that the HRO update isn’t just an issue of fairness, but of economics as well.
“Many Fortune 500 companies have welcomed LGBTs and taken away discriminations,” he said. “This is just one step forward to do the same.”
Christal Hayes contributed to this story.
