500 employers support expansion of Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance

Five hundred employers in Jacksonville support expanding the city’s controversial Human Rights Ordinance to include discrimination protections for the LGBT community.

Bold City Brewery, CSX, Deutsche Bank and Florida Blue are on the list of employers who support HRO expansion.

Link: List of 500 employers who support HRO expansion

The ordinance would make it illegal to deny someone employment, housing or public services because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This comes months after Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry directed all City employment laws to become compliant with state and federal anti-discrimination protections. The directive did not explicitly cover discrimination with regard to public services or housing.

The Jacksonville City Council was reviewing two competing proposals on HRO expansion earlier this year – one leaving the decision up to voters and the other needing only a Council vote.

Councilman Tommy Hazouri removed his bill, which left the decision up to the City Council, in February.

“It’s been seven months that this issue has been debated and talked about and they still have questions,” Hazouri said after withdrawing his proposal. “So I’m out there to help them answer those questions.”

Councilman Bill Gulliford filed a bill which would’ve made HRO expansion a ballot referendum for voters. Hazouri maintains such an important issue like human rights should not be left up to the general public, and should be handled by elected local leaders.

Cox Media Group