Hundreds of people are expected to make their voices heard Tuesday night at Jacksonville City Hall.
The 5 p.m. city council meeting will include public comment on the renewed push to expand the city’s Human Rights Ordinance to include members of the LGBT community.
“We’re one of the few cities left standing that doesn’t have protections, and we need to change that,” said Councilman Aaron Bowman, who introduced the bill.
It’s the third time that a similar bill has been introduced.
“It’s like a bad dream that won’t go away,” said City Councilman Bill Gulliford, who opposes the expansion.
Bowman and Gulliford do not agree on much when it comes to Jacksonville’s HRO, but they both agree that they’re in for a long night.
“I’m expecting it to go very late,” Gulliford said.
“If we still have people who want to speak after midnight, we’ll reconvene probably (Wednesday) morning,” said Bowman.
Bowman hopes a new part of the bill will settle the controversial bathroom issue that derailed it last year.
The bill says nothing will prohibit a business from having single-sex restrooms, locker rooms and the like. It also says that a person’s gender identity cannot be asserted for a criminal purpose.
The bill creates exemptions for small businesses with 15 or fewer employees and religious organizations.
Action News Jax asked Gulliford if he planned, like last year, to file a bill that would take the decision out of the council’s hands and put it before the voters as a referendum.
“Oh, I think a referendum is an appropriate course of action,” Gulliford said.
City Council will not vote on the bill Tuesday night. After the public hearing, the bill will go to three committees in early February.
Bowman hopes the committees will recommend the bill for a full council vote on Feb. 14.
Cox Media Group
