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Collier defies trend, rejects gay rights law©Associated PressDecember 18, 2002 NAPLES -- The Collier County Commission on Tuesday rejected a gay rights ordinance after hearing comment from about 80 members of the community. Commissioners were considering an ordinance that would include sexual orientation in a law protecting people from discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status or disability. The five commissioners voted unanimously against the proposal. The Collier vote went against the trend in a year that's seen a number of local governments have provided antidiscrimination protections for homosexuals. The St. Petersburg City Council began 2002 by including gays and lesbians in antidiscrimination protections. At least four other cities and counties have since passed or upheld similar protections. Earlier this month, Orlando's City Council extended protection to gays and lesbians in its antidiscrimination law. Palm Beach County commissioners added protections for gays and lesbians to the county's Equal Employment Act in September. Voters have also supported gay rights measures. In November, voters in Sarasota passed by a 3-1 ratio a referendum including gays and lesbians for antidiscrimination protection, and Miami-Dade residents voted to keep its gay rights ordinance. Other Florida counties or cities that had similar protections on the books before 2002 are Alachua, Broward, Escambia and Leon counties, and the cities of Tampa, Gainesville, Key West, Miami Beach and Wilton Manors. However, Florida remains the only state that prohibits adoptions by homosexuals, and legislation to protect school students from discrimination based on sexual orientation stalled in the last Legislature. Christian Coalition of Florida leaders say gays and lesbians shouldn't be included in the protected groups and attribute successes by gay rights supporters to voters and elected leaders being "desensitized" by the media. The group says homosexuality is a choice unlike race or gender.
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From the Times state desk
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