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County urged to review action on anti-bias law

Commissioners are asked to reconsider the decision that some think may leave gays vulnerable to prejudice.

By Times Staff Writer
Published August 10, 2005

TAMPA - The county's Human Relations Board voted Tuesday to ask Hillsborough commissioners to revisit a decade-old decision that some of its members say allows discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Commissioners appoint the 13-member citizens panel to hear complaints of discrimination in unincorporated Hillsborough County. Only seven members were present, and the vote was 5-1. The chairman only votes to break ties.

The recommendation comes on the heels of a June 15 vote by commissioners to abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride events. That vote followed publicity surrounding the removal of a display at a county library noting gay pride month and books addressing gay themes.

Al Giraud, a member of the Human Relations Board, requested the action by the advisory panel. He has also filed a complaint with the city of Tampa Office of Human Rights in response to the commission's vote.

Hillsborough commissioners passed an ordinance in 1993 that, among other things, banned discrimination in the county based on sexual orientation. Commissioners removed the sexual orientation provision two years later, and the board has since rejected requests to have it restored.

Giraud said that most Fortune 500 companies have adopted similar policies and that those are the types of businesses that commissioners seek for Hillsborough.

The Human Relations Board stopped short of asking commissioners to restore the sexual orientation language, instead asking them to revisit the 1995 decision.

[Last modified August 10, 2005, 00:36:13]