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City's rights ordinance not a sure thing

By most accounts, any vote will be close. If commissioners approve it Tuesday, a second vote will be Aug. 19.

LARGO - Tuesday, city officials will consider the broadest human rights ordinance in Tampa Bay and one of the broadest ones in the state.

But even if it passes, it won't have teeth beyond the city limits. Unlike Pinellas County's Office of Human Rights, Largo cannot enforce human rights in court.

Still, days before city commissioners vote on the ordinance, its power is evident in the debate it has stirred because of its inclusion of gay and transgender people as protected classes.

It's a debate that wouldn't have happened years ago, especially here, according to Commissioner Charlie Harper.

"Twenty years ago this would not have come before Largo's commission. We've moved to the message that must be sent without that ordinance. The era of discrimination is over in the city of Largo," Harper said.

Talk on the issue started when Harper proposed a human rights ordinance in response to racial discrimination in the city. Then, the city's staff recommended adding protections for gays and transgender people.

Harper advocated an ordinance banning discrimination against all people, including homosexuals and transgender people, who are not protected by federal, state or county laws. He still is against discrimination, he said.

But, he doesn't think the ordinance will help. And he doesn't plan to vote in favor of it Tuesday.

The people of Largo and the business community have not been educated enough, he said. And he thinks it's an issue that should go to a referendum.

"If it's a legitimate discrimination issue, they need to deal with it, but they need to have time to understand what the law is and it's barely been explained to the City Commission," Harper said Friday afternoon.

Commissioners are also talking about having an internal policy prohibiting discrimination and about providing benefits to domestic partners of employees. But those issues won't be discussed at Tuesday's meeting.

With its proposed ordinance, Largo is following in the footsteps of more than 200 municipalities that have laws protecting groups not mentioned in civil rights laws. And about a dozen Florida municipalities prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation. St. Petersburg amended its human rights ordinance in January 2002 to extend protection to people based on sexual orientation, but didn't include gender identity.

Only Monroe County and a city within its borders, Key West, have added protections for homosexuals and transgender people.

Violators of Largo's ordinance could be fined through the county court or code enforcement. They could see fines as small as $31 for a first violation in county court or as high as $500 a day for repeat infractions through the Largo Code Enforcement Board.

"I don't know what good it will necessarily do at the city level, what good does that really do you," said Karl Kuenn, who lives with his partner in a neighborhood near Largo's borders and has expressed interest in annexing.

But he added, "It's a step in the right direction. It gets to where everybody sees it as a norm."

Longtime city activist Bruce McManus, who has led a campaign against the ordinance, doesn't think gays and transgenders need protection. And he's concerned that the ordinance will condone the gay way of life, instead.

"We don't provide special rights for bald people because they are the brunt of jokes," McManus said. "I have problems with what folks are asking for. It's affirmative action for gays and lesbians. They want society to recognize and approve of their behavior. I'm willing to love them as a Christian, but I don't approve of their behavior."

The future of the ordinance is by no means a sure thing. By most accounts, any vote will be close. If the commission approves the ordinance, a second vote will be Aug. 19.

McManus doesn't think the ordinance has a chance. Harper said he thinks it could make it by a hair.

Commissioner Jean Halvorsen said she wants to hear from the people of Largo at the meeting before she decides how to vote.

"I want to hear what everybody has to say. It's a touchy one," she said.

But Commissioner Pat Burke has been resolute from the start.

"I feel that it is without question the right thing to do. I also believe the commission will see that it's the right thing to do," she said.

"Even if it does not pass. Still, we have brought an awareness to the community and a dialogue has started. I bet you within five years people will say "What was all the fuss about?"'

- Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com

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