ORLANDO | Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman joined more than 140 other mayors and municipal leaders from 29 U.S. states without comprehensive nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people in calling on Congress to pass the Equality Act.
A letter, addressed to Members of Congress, urges them to protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination by passing a comprehensive federal protections bill. The letter is also signed by five other Florida mayors — Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis, Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe, Gulfport Mayor Sam Henderson, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, Saint Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James — as well as Commissioner Matthew Sparks of Oakland Park.
“All too often, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people experience discrimination in housing, health care, public spaces such as hotels and restaurants, and in other areas of public life,” the letter states. “According to a recent study more than 1 in 3 LGBTQ Americans faced discrimination of some kind in the past year, including more than 3 in 5 transgender Americans. That’s something no American should have to face.”
Within the 29 states represented in this letter and without full statewide LGBTQ protections, more than 400 cities, counties and municipalities have enacted their own local laws and ordinances prohibiting LGBTQ discrimination. While these local ordinances are a start, “these efforts are simply not enough.”
“This patchwork of protections is unworkable for LGBTQ people who are vulnerable where they live and when they travel,” the letter advises. “Even when protections exist, each time an LGBTQ resident commutes to another city for work, or visits other states, their level of protection changes, sputtering in and out like frustrating cell phone reception. Usage and enforcement of these protections can vary widely from city to city. This creates a confusing tangle of local ordinances, state laws, court opinions and administrative rulings, which is nearly impossible for the average person to navigate.”
Dyer took to Twitter to share the letter, saying “I’m proud to join 140+ municipal leaders nationally who are working to create a more inclusive, equitable country for all. Together we’re advocating for the passage of federal legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans against discrimination.”
I’m proud to join 140+ municipal leaders nationally who are working to create a more inclusive, equitable country for all. Together we’re advocating for the passage of federal legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans against discrimination.https://t.co/zglHOZZgGc
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) December 15, 2020
The Equality Act would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 extending protections to LGBTQ people in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and more. The Democratic-controlled U.S. House passed the Equality Act by a vote of 236-173 last May; however Senate Republicans rejected a vote on the bill when it came before them a month later.
According to Equality Florida, passage of the Equality Act is supported by over 70% of Americans, 200+ major businesses and 700+ faith organizations. In August, the Democratic Party included fighting to enact the Equality Act as part of its 2020 platform.
