JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – City Council has voted to withdrawal two bills that would expand the Human Rights Ordinance.
The council was nearly split on the decision to withdraw Bill 2016-2, which Tommy Hazouri introduced. It would provide protection for the LGBT community if the HRO were approved by City Council.
The bill was also voted to be withdrawn, but there was more of a consensus by the council with an 18 to 1 vote. Bill Gulliford introduced that bill, which proposed putting the issue on the August ballot for a citywide vote.
News4Jax was at the council meeting this afternoon, and, many are not happy with the decision.
The decision was made, but people on both sides of the issue say they will continue to fight for their rights.
"It needs to get done now, this is not about the rights, this needs to be done today, to get it over today, so we can move on to other matters of the city," said Steven Henderson, who supports HRO.
Shouts of frustration filled the streets as protesters questions why city leaders chose to withdraw two bills that would expand the Human Rights Ordinance.
"I would think that it would be wise to let the people decide this and quit being afraid of the people, let the people speak and that’s the whole issue," said John Sawyer, who opposes HRO.
Those who support expanding the HRO to protect the LGBT community and some against did agree that the issue shouldn’t have been tabled. Those who we talked to wanted the bills to go through, so there would be a vote … one way or another.
“It’s to be sorted out, we still hold our ground that the citizens should have a right to decide on the HRO because we realize that it’s an issue, that it’s not going to go away, but we also realize that there is a rise in crime due to a lack of morality, lack of morality due to lack of respecting religious values," said Pastor Elwyn Jenkins of Tru-Way Church of the Risen Christ.
Council members discussed starting over in an effort to make sure everyone is being included and ensure the language is correct.
"As a coalition, I think we’re disappointed that we are not moving forward on this right now," said Dan Merkan, chair of Jacksonville Coalition for Equality. "People in Jacksonville are still unprotected if they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and this is a question we really need to resolve."
The only other option right now without these bills is a citizen’s petition, but enough signatures will have to be collected before the deadline next month to get it on the August ballot.