Lately, it seems like everyone is focused on marriage equality. It’s sweeping the country and state constitutional bans on same-sex marriage have fallen one after another, thanks to last year’s Supreme Court ruling invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act prohibition of marriage equality.
Now, it’s Florida’s turn. Any day now, a ruling will come out of Miami on two cases challenging our state’s 2008 ban on marriage equality. Equality Florida and six same-sex couples had their day in court on July 2. On July 7, a male couple from Key West had their case heard in Monroe County.
It’s widely expected that both cases will fall in the direction of equality, and deem the same-sex marriage ban in the Sunshine State unconstitutional.
That’s exciting and it will be a happy day for our state. But we can’t forget that there are still many parts of our state that discriminate daily against LGBTs.
Our local governments have an opportunity to put their stamp on history in a very big way—and it has nothing to do with marriage equality.
The City of Orlando and the Hillsborough County Commission will both take a close look at equality issues as they pertain to LGBTs. If they act quickly, they could be on the right side of history and leaders in the fight for equality of their respective citizens. And while equality should start at the top, let’s not kid ourselves. Governor Rick Scott has no interest in protecting LGBTs and Attorney General Pam Bondi is furiously defending the state’s ban on our right to marry.
As Watermark headed to press with this issue, no ruling had been made on the constitutionality of Florida’s ban on same-sex marriages and the Hillsborough County Commission was scheduled to hear a discussion about adding sexual orientation and gender identity and expression to its human rights ordinance. The simple fact that the commission was open to this discussion is amazing, given that less than a decade ago that same entity barred it’s employees and departments from recognizing or supporting LGBT Pride in any way. This is also the same commission that just last year refused to approve a domestic partnership registry for its unmarried, coupled citizens, bucking a trend that swept the entire state in 2013.
But our state is looking at marriage! Basic protections for citizens who happen to be LGBT should have been in place in Hillsborough long before now!
The City of Orlando seems to be ahead of Hillsborough County when it comes to equality, and it has a chance to continue that forward motion July 28, when it hears an amendment to add gender identity and expression to its anti-discrimination ordinance.
If things go well, the changes could be cemented into place at the Aug. 11 meeting, when the City Commission will vote on the measure.
If history is our guide, the possibility of change coming to Orlando is more probable than in Hillsborough. But we’ve been surprised before. So I’m hesitant to count these as victories too soon.
Nadine Smith, Equality Florida CEO, has said that ban (and other actions) have put a “stain” on Hillsborough County. It’s reputation as backwoods and pro-discrimination has only grown over the years. Orlando’s pro-LGBT equality stance has been impressive, and Orange County, despite the wavering and less-than-concrete views of mayor Teresa Jacobs, also tends to be supportive.
There are signs of progress in Hillsborough, however. I have to give credit where it’s due. The current commission voted to repeal that ridiculous so-called “ban” and that the seven commissioners are willing to even hear a discussion on protecting LGBT citizens is a huge step forward.
But hearing a discussion and acting to protect constituents are two very different things. These seven elected officials have the opportunity to embrace equality and become leaders in the county and the state, rather than followers, as they’ve been for so long.
In Orlando, it’s high time our transgender neighbors get the protections they deserve as well.
It’s an exciting summer for our state. But change has to happen on the local level, and these governments have what should be very easy decisions before them in July. Let’s hope they both do the right thing.
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