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Tampa Gets Complaint over Hillsborough County Gay DecisionA gay man has filed a discrimination complaint with Tampa, Florida, over Hillsborough County’s recent decision to ban gay pride events, an action that directly resulted in the June 16 removal of two exhibits at the county library’s John F. Germany branch in downtown Tampa, the Tampa Tribune reported June 23.Al Giraud’s June 22 complaint to the city Human Rights Board cited Tampa’s ordinance protecting residents from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and stated that the county commission “violated the privileges and advantages of my protected class by passing a resolution banning ’gay pride events.’” The county’s human rights law, passed in 2000, repealed an earlier ordinance that specifically prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. City Attorney David Smith said he was unsure if the city could investigate Giraud’s complaint against the county, and County Attorney Renee Lee questioned whether the human rights office had jurisdiction over the county. Giraud is a member of the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board—the group that reviews county discrimination complaints—and he has asked Board Chair Thomas Britten to call a special meeting on the issue. “I want some clarification,” he told the Tribune. The commission’s policy “seems like a conflict if we are supposed to be advocating against discrimination.” The commission’s gay pride ban sparked opposition from Equality Florida—a statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights organization based in St. Petersburg—as well as business leaders who fear an economic backlash against the community. At a June 20 rally in the Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa, more than 700 people waved rainbow flags and pledged to get the ban repealed. Posted June 24, 2005. |
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