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Public voices their opinions for Jacksonville's Human Rights Ordinance

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Public comment was held Wednesday morning regarding the expansion of Jacksonville's controversial Human Rights Ordinance.

Hundreds packed Jacksonville City Hall Tuesday night to weigh in on a bill to revise the city’s existing Human Rights Ordinance. With too many people, the city council stopped at midnight. It opened to public comment again Wednesday at 9 a.m. and ended at noon.

Jacksonville is one of the only major cities that does not have an existing HRO in place to help prevent discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

People are very passionate on both sides of the issue.

People opposing the HRO worry it could hurt small businesses, and some said the city is just doing this for economic reasons. For others, it's about religion.

Supporters said it would ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, in housing and in public spaces run by the city.

Many are still pushing for a referendum, but as it stands, the city council would make the final vote in about three weeks.

READ THE FULL BILL ON THE HRO FROM THE JACKSONVILLE CITY COUNCIL

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