The question of whether to include Christian conservative activist Terry Kemple on a county diversity advisory group led to an extraordinary debate regarding Hillsborough County's history of discrimination against gays at a Board of County Commissioners meeting Wednesday afternoon.
Kemple's strident advocacy has alienated him from both the gay and Muslim communities over the years. A letter he wrote to supporters about the diversity group ultimately led a national diversity organization to recommend he be removed from consideration, prompting a discussion today about the fairness of the process.
After a spirited hour-long debate, the board voted 4 to 3 to keep Kemple on the list. However, they then voted a moment later to table the entire diversity council on a motion by Commissioner Les Miller on a 4-3 vote.
In the inflammatory, not to mention contradictory, letter Kemple sent to his followers, he declared, "We need to let our BOCC know that we don't think this is the 'important work' they should be doing!" He also blasted Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who is gay, writing that Beckner was trying "to create special rights in county law for people based on their sexual practices." Yet Kemple at the same time urged his followers to apply for the diversity council he was criticizing.
County Administrator Mike Merrill forwarded the letter to the Florida chapter of the National Diversity Council last month, who wrote back that "the information should disqualify the individual from being part of the Advisory Council." Beckner agreed. So case closed, right?
Uh, not exactly.
This article appears in May 16-22, 2013.