Neptune Beach- Neptune Beach City Council narrowly passed a resolution supporting the Florida Legislature passing laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The resolution was approved in a 3-2 vote during the regular council meeting April 7 with Mayor Harriet Pruette and Vice Mayor John Jolly and council member Richard Arthur voting in favor, and council members Kara Tucker and Scott Wiley voting against.
The resolution was introduced by Mayor Pruette and was heard in February but had to be postponed for rewording. It was revisited March 17 at a workshop where the council worked out the exact wording.
It begins with a list supporting Florida’s stance on equality, citing the state constitution and previous anti-discrimination bills.
“The City of Neptune Beach, Florida, hereby supports the passing of laws by the State of Florida Legislature prohibiting discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; thus fulfilling the declaration of the State of Florida Constitution of equal protection under the law,” the resolution reads, and it also states that copies will be sent to each of Florida’s state legislators.
According to Deputy City Clerk Karla Strait, before the April 7 vote, about 20 people spoke for 30-40 minutes, mostly in favor of the bill. She said it was a “quick vote” after public comments, now that the bill’s wording had been finalized.
Back in February, Mayor Pruette told Watermark she was “disappointed” the resolution wasn’t received more favorably when first introduced to the City Council.
