Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 13, 2016

The expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance is on the backburner to LGBT people, but the First Coast Tea Party sent Mayor Lenny Curry a recent letter opposing HRO expansion. “We encourage the City Council to NOT create a new protected class,” says the letter, which notes that “Jacksonville’s business community is thriving/growing.” The First Coast Tea […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 4, 2016

Given that many proponents of expansion of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance were disappointed that the most recent push toward HRO expansion ended up short of that goal, it’s interesting that the official position of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality has been to laud the positive policy outcome from the debate: the Mayoral Directive, issued in […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 29, 2016

At the start of the year, I made 12 predictions for 2016 in Jacksonville politics. A fourth of the way through, revisiting them is useful. Some I got right. Some I got wrong. Some are still in progress. Predictions 1 and 2 revolved around the Human Rights Ordinance expansion, which was the issue du jour. […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 18, 2016

Of late, Jacksonville media has been trying to reconcile what seemed to be a pro-HRO expansion position during the 2015 campaign with more muted support by candidates this time around. Councilwoman Katrina Brown was one candidate identified as pro-HRO expansion, according to comments she made to The Florida Times-Union last year, that were given a new […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

After the Committee of the Whole meeting on Jacksonville’s HRO expansion Thursday, there will be a special meeting of City Council where both HRO bills can be withdrawn, Council President Greg Anderson said This is the “same process we put in place” ahead of the establishment of this process, Anderson said. It will allow for […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 16, 2016

On the Florida Baptist Witness website, Roger Gannam of the Liberty Counsel said that while he was “pleased” that Tommy Hazouri would withdraw his bill to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance, the fight is not over. “We are pleased that our efforts have shown that the city council can’t pass this bill right now,” Gannam said to the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2016

Barring an unforeseen development at Thursday’s special meeting, Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri will table his HRO expansion bill at least through May. However, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality plans on mobilizing its base Thursday nonetheless. After the Council meeting, the JCE will hold a “Yes to Equality” rally in front of the main library on […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 14, 2016

10468373_747719325362755_6058127641690193194_n-1-1024x1024.jpg

The Human Rights Ordinance expansion may be going away from Jacksonville in the short term, but LGBT equality advocates are not, as a march is planned Thursday at high noon. The march, just hours before Tommy Hazouri is expected to withdraw his legislation at the Thursday afternoon Committee of the Whole (in light of a seeming […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2016

12573197_10156453421390230_2554366252676157852_n-1024x1024.jpg

Despite Tommy Hazouri choosing to withdraw the HRO expansion bill (and taking the slings and arrows of character assassination from HRO expansion advocates in the process), the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality remains steadfast in its commitment to a fully inclusive bill. A long statement from the JCE had a couple of interesting sentences. One of them: “We […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 9, 2016

Perhaps it was the cold weather. Perhaps advocates were at home Feeling the Bern. Whatever the case, Jax Council heard fewer HRO public comments than usual. The opponents talking about how Human Rights Ordinance expansion would corrode Jacksonville’s “family-friendly” nature? Not there. Perhaps it was a matter of “in case of Rapture, Council Chambers unmanned.” […]

Tag: Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance

First Coast Tea Party says HRO expansion advocates herd them “like sheep to the slaughter”

Email insights: Jax Coalition for Equality lauds mayoral non-discrimination directive

A.G. Gancarski: So far, so good on 2016 predictions

Katrina Brown: “HRO was not my campaign”

Jax City Council to meet Thursday evening after HRO Committee of the Whole

Roger Gannam celebrates “temporary victory” on HRO

Jax Coalition for Equality to rally Thursday after City Council meeting

March for Equality planned in Jacksonville for Thursday

On HRO, no compromise for Jax Coalition for Equality

HRO public comment muted at Jax Council Tuesday