But according to Equality Florida, Volusia becomes just the third county in Central or North Florida to have a fully inclusive policy prohibiting discrimination against the LGBT community, joining Leon and Orange Counties.
There are currently at least 13 local governments in the state to have such a policy, including Pinellas, but notably not Hillsborough, which in 1991 did pass such an ordinance (led by Commissioners such as Pam Iorio, Ed Turanchik & Phyllis Busansky), but then infamously repealed that in 1995.
Last year Commissioner Kevin Beckner broached the idea of revisiting that issue but received nothing but indifference from the board, including now former Commissioner Jim Norman, who accused Beckner of trying to introduce such a measure “through the back door."
In the fall of 2009, the city of Tampa approved a measure to add gender identity to its human rights ordinance.
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The Volusia County Council on Thursday passed a measure that makes it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, or places of public accommodation like restaurants or bars.
Volusia - which encompasses Daytona Beach and Nascar's Daytona 500 race, now becomes the latest Florida county to include sexual orientation and gender identity in their anti-discrimination laws when it takes affect July 1.
