Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 10, 2015

On Wednesday evening, former Jacksonville mayoral candidate and current Jax Chamber Chairwoman-elect Audrey Moran, at Intuition Ale Works in North Riverside, made the case for expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance. Moran, who has been unstinting in this case for years, spoke at a Jacksonville Coalition for Equality “Happy Hour” event, opening her remarks with […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 9, 2015

Bruce Jones, the Senior Pastor at Southside United Methodist Church, is an imposing figure, standing over 6 foot tall and resembling a cross between Walter White of “Breaking Bad” and Gus Bradley. Reverend Jones is not the kind of man who seeks publicity, unlike some other Jacksonville pastors and preachers. He’s a thoughtful, introspective man, albeit one […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2015

One of the leading pieces of documentary evidence in favor of the expansion of the Human Rights Ordinance has been Six Words. This documentary will again be aired on local television: at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, on WJXT TV 4. This 40-minute documentary, “Six Words,” that Jimmy Midyette from the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality described […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 4, 2015

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On Thursday, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality announced that 75 faith leaders vowed to support a fully inclusive Human Rights Ordinance expansion. While the number was significant, not all denominations were represented. Pentecostals and Catholics, for example, were nowhere to be found. And, observed Parvez Ahmed on Friday, who was among the 75, the Islamic faith […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 3, 2015

On Thursday evening, the second of three “Community Conversations” on the expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance was held, around the theme of religious freedoms and implications for HRO expansion. Spoiler alert: it was no more conclusive than the first community conversation, showing a city with divisions on the issue that run deep, and leaving […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 2, 2015

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought? When it comes to the Human Rights Ordinance, at least one out-of-state outfit thinks so. As first reported by WJXT, a Dallas outfit called Newstarter.com posits a provocative proposition: “Millionaires buy politicians. Now the PEOPLE can too! Buy City Council votes to pass the Human Rights Ordinance in Jacksonville,” says […]

Melissa RossNovember 30, 2015

By turns funny and rueful, Houston Mayor Annise Parker urged Duval County Democrats to learn from her city’s recent bruising turn in the national spotlight over the routing of its “HERO” ordinance by not making the same mistakes of her administration. “When the stupid comments start, don’t roll your eyes,” she told the 2015 Blue […]

Melissa RossNovember 30, 2015

Back in 2012, he was one of a chorus of evangelical pastors in North Florida speaking out against updating Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to cover LGBT citizens from discrimination in jobs, housing and public accommodations. But now, the Reverend R.L. Gundy has changed his mind. “There’s no conflict between your Biblical stance and the issue. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2015

A movement is afoot, as we reported on Tuesday, among certain pastors to push toward a referendum on the Human Rights Ordinance, as opposed to a Council vote. The referendum in Houston managed to undo the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. Uncoincidentally, Houston pastors were recently in town talking to Jacksonville counterparts. Is this a serious […]

Melissa RossNovember 24, 2015

In the wake of bomb threats and racist KKK flyers being distributed around town, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality is sending a message of unity and strength as the city continues its “community conversations” on whether to expand the local human rights ordinance to cover LGBT residents. In an email to supporters and media outlets, […]

Tag: HRO
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Audrey Moran issues Jax HRO “call to action”

Lenny Curry’s pastor: HRO passage is a “no brainer”

“Six Words” to be shown on WJXT Saturday evening

Parvez Ahmed calls on imams to “step forward” on expanding Jax HRO

In Jax HRO debate, do #AllLivesMatter?

Can Jacksonville’s City Council be bought?

Houston Mayor Annise Parker to Duval Dems: “address stupid comments head-on”

Jax pastor R.L. Gundy on HRO switch: “we cannot discriminate”

Jax Democratic Council members discuss potential HRO referendum

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality “united against threats and fear”