While many people spoke about legal aspects of the ban, some spoke from a personal perspective. "Home,'' Henry said, ''is a place where you feel welcomed.'' Hillsborough County - and all of Tampa Bay - is a place that many LGBT people call home. "We are an organization that works to promote the civil rights and civil liberties of all people - including ensuring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have equal opportunity to participate fully in civil society,'' said Henry. One of the initial speakers was Joyce Hamilton Henry, the director of the Mid-Florida Regional Office of the ACLU of Florida. "You just need to believe in the principles and the spirit enshrined and interwoven into The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States.''Īfter Beckner's opening remarks, people (who signed-up to speak beforehand) were allowed to take to the podium, and voice their concerns and opinions. "You don't have to change your current beliefs to believe that government-sanctioned discrimination is wrong,'' Beckner said. Just as President Obama acknowledged in 2011, that his view of gays and lesbians is evolving, today's Hillsborough County commissioners admitted that they too are evolving - both personally and politically.īeckner said his intent went beyond granting a Gay Pride parade. 'Little g, little p.' How else could that be interpreted?'' It was intended to purposely discriminate against a class of citizens in our community. The only thing that was clear, when this policy was passed, was its intent. That's all it took for this board to pass a policy that put it in the national spotlight, and labeled this county as 'bigoted,' 'backwards' and 'less than inclusive.' No discussion as how this policy would serve public purpose, or the greater good of this community. When the cheers ceased, Kevin Beckner, Hillsborough County’s first openly gay commissioner and leader of an effort to repeal the ban, spoke. ''I think it's inappropriate for government to promote discrimination,'' Castor said then.Īfter the video showing Castor's remarks ended, the crowd at Wednesday's commission meeting cheered.
Rep.) Kathy Castor was the only commissioner staunchly opposed to the ban. ''Board members, I move that we adopt a policy that Hillsborough County government abstain from acknowledging, promoting and participating in Gay Pride recognition and events,'' said Storm on the video. Video of that decision was replayed for commissioners and an SRO crowd at the County Center in downtown Tampa on Wednesday. This is an edited version of a posting from the blog World Observations.Įight years ago, that is all the time it took for the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to pass an ordinance that put Tampa in the international spotlight.īack in 2005, a gay-related display in the children's section of a public library prompted former commissioner Rhonda Storm to champion a ban on Gay Pride-related activities.