Unfortunately, Jean Batronie is used to discrimination. The transgender candidate for the Hillsborough County Commission District 4 seat was barred from a televised debate on a local cable access channel for reasons she believe are unfounded.

     Batronie said she was originally invited to participate in the Aug. 9 debate on the show Voice of Pride on the cable access channel Speak Up Tampa Bay. However, organizers then told her the county had banned her from the premises.

     "I was told that (station manager) Louise Thompson did not want me to come to her private TV station for the debate," Batronie said. "I used to host a show on Channel 20, but they removed me after saying I violated their rules. That’s just not true."

     Batronie and her partner, Arleen, produced two shows for the station. Station management cancelled Batronie’s show because a guest criticized the county government and made some off-color remarks. Batronie said the comments had nothing to do with her personally and weren’t even supposed to be aired.

     When management found out Batronie was a guest caller on Arleen’s show, they cancelled that show as well.

     "It’s just ridiculous," Batronie said. "And the point isn’t that I can’t have a show. The point is that there was an open debate for candidates to discuss the issues and I couldn’t participate because of something so small. It just doesn’t make sense."

     Batronie plans to file suit against the station for violating her First Amendment rights. She also has an active suit against the county-supported cable access station for ending her show. Thompson didn’t have much to say about the ban.

     "Anyone and everyone are welcome to come down to the station and view the records with regard to the way that these producers’ suspensions were handled," Thompson said. "(Then they can) decide for themselves what they think about it."

     Batronie said her ban from the debate and the station is just another reflection on the county’s policy toward the GLBT community.

     "We’ve been singled out again because the county doesn’t like the content of our shows and don’t like us as people," Batronie said, referring to the GLBT community. "It’s just typical Hillsborough County politics. The commission has made it very clear that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals are not welcome in this area. I want to change that. The public wants to see that changed."

     In 2004, Batronie faced District 4 Commissioner Ronda Storms, who gained notoriety last summer for her motion to ban GLBT pride events in Hillsborough County. In the spring, Storms led an unsuccessful attempt to limit the type of programming on the cable access show.

     Storms has long-targeted the public-access station. According to Mark Ferguson, president of Brandon Pride, Storms told the station in 2001 she was offended by some of its programs and that she would fight any support for the county to fund the station unless things changed. Since then, Speak Up Tampa Bay has removed programming that major contributors have found offensive.

     "The GLBT community and the overall community are tired of the games played by the county commission and our other county leaders," Batronie said.

     Batronie said she has a strong backing for this fall’s campaign and plans to win the District 4 seat with no party affiliation.

     Storms is vacating the position to pursue a District 10 Senate seat. That means Batronie will not face an incumbent in the November general election. She will, however, face Republican Al Higgenbotham – who is unchallenged in the Sept. 5 primary – and the winner of the Democratic primary race between Lisa Rodriguez and James Rowell.