Last week, the Tampa City Council voted to include gender identity and expression in the city's human rights law, which would effectively prohibit workplace discrimination against people who change genders.
The discussion was relatively non-controversial, with some humorous quips made during the debate by Council members Mary Mulhern and Charlie Miranda, who said at one point, "Is it today that I'm sitting next to Albert and tomorrow I'm sitting next to Alice?"
But even though Tampa is a relative beacon for gay rights in comparison to Hillsborough County, there are some in the community who aren't happy about the Council's move.
Terry Kemple is now mobilizing his Community Issues Council to pressure City Council members to reverse their vote when it comes back for a second reading next Thursday.
This is a letter that Kemple has sent out to his forces:
Please stop this assault on Christian values! Do this whether you live in the city or outside the city. If you don't, here are just a few of the things that will happen. 1. People who dress like the opposite sex will be allowed into the restroom of the gender they feel like today. 2. Sexual predators will be able to take advantage of the law to go into the other sex's restroom. 3. Regardless of their religious beliefs, rental property owners will be forced to rent to cross dressers. 4. Regardless of their religious beliefs, business owners will be forced to hire and/or retain cross dressers. 5. These special privileges will be granted because of a person’s aberrant sexual behavior. These are not hypothetical! Example after example exists of this discrimination against people of faith! If the City Council hears a loud voice from the Church they'll think twice and we may actually defeat this proposal. If they don't hear from us be ready to lose a few more of the religious freedoms our country was established to protect. Please contact City Council members and ask your Pastor to tell the congregation to contact them as well.
But the LGBT community in Tampa is also engaged. Sally Phillips is the President of the Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus, and VP of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. In an e-mail sent out to supporters this morning, Phillips writes:
. We are asking all our members, supporters and friends to contact all members of the Tampa City Council to thank them for showing courage and being fair-minded. Please e-mail and/or fax and ask that your e-mail/fax be put on record.
The issue will go back before Council next Thursday, November 19th.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2009.
