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City to consider drafts of bias policies
By KELLEY BENHAM, Times Staff Writer
LARGO -- The city will hammer out its stance on human rights and discrimination tonight in a discussion that has already forced commissioners to wrestle with their values and their political will. It started after a racial slur in the Fire Department prompted the City Commission to draft an internal discrimination policy and citywide human rights ordinance. The debate has expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity issues in proposed policies that would rank among the most inclusive in the state. The commission will consider drafts of two separate policies at its work session tonight at 5 p.m. at City Hall. One would cover harassment and discrimination within the city work force with respect to hiring, working environment and promotions. The other would cover housing, employment and accommodations throughout the city, and provide the city staff to investigate complaints. "It's a very good discussion to have," said Commissioner Pat Gerard, a vice president at Family Resources, a social services agency. She knows it could draw controversy in the community and on the commission itself. Commissioners will consider whether to prohibit harassment and discrimination against gays, lesbians and transgender people. Commissioners will discuss whether to extend benefits to long-term partners of unmarried city employees, gay or straight. They will also consider the various forms of gender expression: from effeminate men and masculine-looking women to people who have had their gender surgically changed. They will debate government's role in general and the city's role in particular in dealing with forms of discrimination that the city has not yet faced. "It's an issue that causes you to examine your own value system," said Mayor Bob Jackson, a retired teacher and middle school principal. He will "listen and try to keep my mouth shut" at the work session, he said. Jackson believes government works best when it reacts to problems, he said. So far, Largo has not had to deal with harassment of transgender people, and the city already does not discriminate against homosexuals in employment, although they are not protected in its policies. "It's difficult to anticipate and legislate what might happen," Jackson said. "I have a lot of misgivings about trying to legislate what essentially are moral issues." Commissioners Pat Burke, Charlie Harper and Gerard have already said they support protecting gays and lesbians in the city's policies. It was Burke who pushed for the inclusion of "gender identity and expression" as a protected class. Gerard agrees with her. "My sense is people want to do the right thing, and I think personally it is the right thing," she said. It's a big step for Largo that goes beyond correcting past injustices, she said.. "I'm kind of proud of this actually," she said. "It's good to stick your neck out." -- Kelley Benham can be reached at 445-4174 or benham@sptimes.com
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
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