Melissa Ross
Former Jacksonville mayoral candidate Audrey Moran used her time at the podium accepting a OneJax Humanitarian Award to call out Mayor Alvin Brown and his challenger Lenny Curry, both in the audience, on the city’s Human Right Ordinance.
Moran, now vice president of corporate and social responsibility for Baptist Health, challenged Brown and Curry to issue a joint statement pledging to support a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance. She received a standing ovation, according to attendees at the Thursday event.
The issue has dogged both candidates, as activists become increasingly vocal in the campaign to add language to the city’s human rights ordinance to protect the LGBT community from discrimination in jobs, housing and public accommodations. Jacksonville is virtually the only large metro left in the country not to have done it.
Brown and Curry have remained largely noncommittal on the HRO, although Brown has ordered a review of policies to determine whether discrimination exists. For his part, just Curry published a op-ed in the Florida Times-Union stating he’s not convinced a change to the ordinance is needed.
Here are the relevant portions of Moran’s remarks:
In just 19 days, we will elect a mayor and a city council. In the March election, only 33 percent of registered voters paid attention and cast a ballot. The turnout for this next election could be even less. We NEED to pay attention to who we elect. It matters who will lead this City for the next four years. It matters where candidates stand on the issues and what they believe.
Our two candidates for Mayor are with us this evening. Gentlemen – I know all too well what an incredibly busy time this is for both of you. The fact that you chose to be with us this evening is hopeful for all of us.
But as candidates for the most important elected office in our City, you need to know that the grizzled old man who told me he was invisible is not alone in feeling that way in our City. There are many people – especially members of our LGBT community — who are afraid to be their true and authentic selves, to be fully visible, because of discrimination and the lack of any laws to protect them.
Mayor Brown and Mr. Curry: Many, many people in this room tonight have been paying attention to the fact that our City still does not have a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance. And we have noticed that you both have the same position on this important issue – a position largely of silence. In the world of politics, many would say that it is a smart strategy. That when both of you refuse to directly answer questions about an HRO, no one risks that issue becoming the defining factor in what undoubtedly will be a very close race.
I happen to believe that you are both good men who really do care about our community. So what if you tried a different strategy. What if you both – TOGETHER – issued a statement pledging to support a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance if you are elected on May 19th? By issuing a joint statement — no one gains a political advantage.
If you stood up for equality, this election could then focus on other issues that matter greatly to our community and its future. And I guarantee this City – and perhaps the rest of the country – would pay attention.
So far, there has been no official response from either camp to Moran’s challenge.
