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Rights policy gains ground
By KELLEY BENHAM, Times Staff Writer
LARGO -- The City Commission informally agreed to protect homosexuals and transgender people in a proposed citywide human rights ordinance and internal discrimination policy. The policies being drafted by city staffers are subject to more discussion and a formal vote. But at a work session Tuesday, a majority of commissioners supported protecting classes of people that county, state and federal law do not. "I'm proud of the city," said Commissioner Pat Burke, who was among the most vocal supporters of the measures. A racial slur in the Fire Department first prompted the city to review its stance on discrimination. If the commission passes what has been proposed, Largo would have some of the most inclusive discrimination policies in the country. It could even provide benefits to domestic partners of unmarried city employees. The human rights ordinance would apply to employment, housing and accommodations throughout the city. The internal policy would affect only city employees and job applicants. Laws at other levels of government protect against many forms of discrimination, but Largo's would add four otherwise unprotected categories: sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status and familial status. Mayor Bob Jackson and Commissioner Harriet Crozier opposed the citywide human rights ordinance. Jackson opposed passing any ordinance at all, while Crozier supported the idea but said the city does not have the staff to enforce it. Commissioner Charlie Harper, who started the push for a human rights ordinance, said hehas received several of "what can only be described as hate calls" since he publicly declared support for including sexual orientation in the plans weeks ago. "It's very important we get feedback from the community at some point," he said, adding that the commission's vote should reflect community values. "I know in my heart what I want to do." Hate calls and hate mail illustrate why the city needs the protections, Burke said. "We have to be courageous in these times," she said. Commissioner Pat Gerard rejected the idea that the board must mirror community will. "In the Deep South in the 1950s, you would not have gotten community support on civil rights legislation," she said. Harper stopped short of supporting the inclusion of "gender identity and expression" as a protected class. "I apologize for just being a good ol' boy from Largo," he said. "But does that mean cross-dressers?" The category would cover masculine-looking women and effeminate men, as well as people who have had their gender surgically changed. It was Burke who insisted the category be added to the proposals. "That is a huge issue," she said. "It's all or nothing." Commissioners Gay Gentry, Jean Halvorsen and Gerard agreed to include sexual orientation and gender identity in both the internal and citywide policies. Commissioners saved the details of how to enforce the citywide ordinance for another day. They also decided to do more research on providing benefits to city employees' domestic partners. Crozier and Jackson said they oppose the idea. "I still believe in the legality of marriage," Jackson said. Burke said the idea is not new, as a number of private employers and a few governments provide the benefits already. The policies will probably require at least one more work session, city staffers said, before they are ready for a formal vote at a public hearing.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
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