Miami – The Miami Dade County Commission are still in session. At issue? A vote on an amendment that could add gender identity and expression to the existing human rights ordinance if passed. The 9 a.m. meeting started an hour late and an estimated 3,000 people, according to Equality Florida, attended.
That large number delayed the meeting for hours, and no final vote has been cast yet.
The amendment, sponsored by Commissioners Audrey Edmonson and Bruno Barreiro, will bar discrimination against transgender people in the areas of employment, public accommodations and housing.
Gina Duncan, transgender inclusion director for Equality Florida, was at the meeting on behalf of Equality Florida and spoke at the meeting.
Members of the anti-gay Christian Family Coalition were also present at the meeting. The group argues that the inclusion this law creates will allow for persons to inappropriately access public restrooms, thus creating possible public fear, criminal acts and harm to others.
Supporters and opponents of the measure rallied outside the Stephen P. Clark Center all day, waiting for a decision to be made by the County Commission.
