1977 - The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
considered, but failed to approve, an ordinance to make it unlawful to
discriminate in employment “for any reason, except where such reason is
directly related to the job being applied for or being performed.”
1981 - The LGBT-inclusive Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches is founded.
1987
- Atlantic Coast Democratic Club becomes the second LGBT political
organization to be chartered by the Florida Democratic County.
1988
- The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC) is founded to
work towards ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender
identity and gender expression.
1988 - The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council issues its first political endorsements.
1989
- The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council begins an educational
campaign on bias against gay men and lesbians in housing in Palm Beach
County.
1989 - PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch is elected to serve as Vice Chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee.
1990
- Palm Beach County amends it’s Fair Housing Ordinance to protect gay
men, lesbians and bisexuals from discrimination in housing, financing
for housing, and in public accommodations. (The law is the oldest gay
rights law currently in effect in Florida).
1990 - Palm
Beach County becomes the first public employer in Florida to amend the
County's Affirmative Action Plan to protect gay and lesbian County
employees from discrimination in County hiring and employment.
1990
- Palm Beach County Commissioners unanimously vote to appoint local gay
rights activist Norm Aaron to serve on the Pam Beach County Fair
Housing Board. Aaron becomes the first of many openly LGBT public
officials to serve in Palm Beach County since 1990.
1990 - PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch becomes Chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee.
1990
- Palm Beach County Anti-Violence Project” is established by the Palm
Beach County Human Rights Council to work with law enforcement and lGBT
community to combat an increase in gay bashing in Palm Beach County.
1990 - West Palm Beach includes LGBT issues in its diversity training for law enforcement officers and other municipal employees
1990
- West Palm Beach City Commissioners appoint PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch
to serve on the West Palm Beach Employment Practices Review Commission.
His fellow commissioners elect his as Chairman Pro Tempore.
1991
- The School Board of Palm Beach County rejects PBCHRC’s request to add
sexual orientation to its list of categories protected from employment
discrimination.
1990 - LGBT activist Norm Aaron forms “Seniors and Sunshine” to support for LGBT Seniors in Palm Beach County.
1991
- West Palm Beach becomes the first public employer in Florida to enact
an ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation in public employment.
1991 - The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council conducts a countywide survey on anti-LGBT crimes and bias.
1991
- An amendment sponsored by Senator Eleanor Weinstock (D-West Palm
Beach) to include sexual orientation in Florida’s Hate Crimes Act is
enacted into law
1991 - The Palm Beach County Board of
County Commissioners appoints PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch to serve on the
Palm Beach County Ethics Steering Commission.
1991 -
West Palm Beach reverses an initial denial by the Zoning Board of a
license for The Backdoor Bookstore, a lesbian owned business geared to
the LGBT community. The short-lived bookstore becomes the unofficial
LGBT community center in Palm Beach County.
1991 - The
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Election designates The Backdoor
Bookstore an official Continuous Voter Registration Site by.
1991 - The Southern Source, a “lesbian/gay vehicle for communication and information” published by Susan Harris is founded.
1991
- The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council presents awards to State
Senator Eleanor Weinstock and West Palm Beach Police Chief Billy Riggs
for their work in successfully combating violence against the LGBT
Community.
1991 - The Palm Beach County Fair Housing Board begins testing on LGBT bias in housing.
1991
- PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch addresses FBI Hate Crimes Training
Conference of law enforcement officials from Florida and Alabama.
1991
- The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council establishes both a state
and a federal political action committee. The pro-LGBT PACS are the
first in the nation to be headed by a lesbian, longtime lesbian activist
Roz Rizzo.
1991 - West Palm Beach adopts a policy
prohibiting the use of any public funds for organizations or facilities
which discriminate on the basis of several protected classes, including
sexual orientation.
1991 - Boynton Beach adopts
a policy prohibiting the use of any public funds for organizations or
facilities which discriminate on the basis of several protected classes,
including sexual orientation.
1991 - Riviera Beach
adopts a policy prohibiting the use of any public funds for
organizations or facilities which discriminate on the basis of several
protected classes, including sexual orientation.
1992 - Governor Lawton Chiles appoints PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch to serve as Florida’s first openly gay judge.
1992
- West Palm Beach becomes the first public employer in Florida to
provide domestic partnership benefits for municipal employees.
1992
- Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay man working in the administration of
Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, is appointed Director of Florida Relief
Center, which is headquartered at the Palm Beach County Fairgrounds.
1992 - Compass, the successor of the Stop AIDS Project, is formed as the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of the Palm Beaches.
1992 - The first PrideFest is held at the Armory Center in West Palm Beach.
1992 - PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch is selected as an LGBT "Avant Guardian" by The Advocate, the nation's largest gay and lesbian news magazine.
1994
- West Palm Beach enacts an Equal Opportunity Ordinance prohibiting
discrimination based on sexual orientation in private and public
employment, housing and public accommodation.
1994 -
West Palm Beach Mayor Nancy Graham head’s the “NO on 1!" campaign,
urging voters not to repeal the City’s recently enacted Equal
Opportunity Ordinance.
1994 - Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay man, serves as Director of Operations for Chiles/McKay reelection campaign.
1995
- Voters in West Palm Beach overwhelmingly reject the effort to repeal
the Equal Opportunity Ordinance by a margin of 56% to 43%. West Palm
Beach becomes the first jurisdiction in Florida to withstand a repeal
effort by popular vote.
1995 - The Legal Aid
Society of Palm Beach County presents its Legislative Advocacy Award to
PBCHRC Secretary Rae Frank and Vice President Fields.
1995
- By a four-to-three vote, the Palm Beach County Board of County
Commissioners reject PBCHRC’s request to include sexual orientation as a
protected class in the Palm Beach County Equal Employment Ordinance,
which the County Commission enacts – without sexual orientation – by a
five-to-two vote.
1996 - Lake Park enacts an Equal
Opportunity/Minority and Women Business Enterprises Ordinance which
prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation.
1996
- Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay man working in the administration of
Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, is appointed Executive Director of the
Miami Financial Emergency Oversight Board.
1996 - The
Atlantic Coast Democratic Club is reorganized as the Lawton Chiles Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Democratic Club.
1997 - Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay man is appointed Director of External Affairs by Governor Lawton Chiles.
1997 - Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay man is appointed Director of Florida Tobacco Control Pilot Program (a/k/a The Truth Campaign)
1998 - Deidre Newton, an open lesbian, is elected to the Palm Beach County Soil and Water Conservation District Board.
1999
- Atlantis updates its Police Department’s Harassment and
Discrimination in the Workplace Policy to include sexual orientation.
2000 - Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches moves into new location in Palm Beach Gardens.
2000
- John L. Stryker, part-time Palm Beacher and philanthropist,
establishes the Arcus Foundation, the world's leading foundation funding
organizations worldwide working to advance LGBT equality.
2002 - The Palm Beach County Sheriffs' Office offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2002
- The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners amends the
County's Equal Employment Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based on
marital status and sexual orientation.
2002- Metropolitan Community Church of the Palm Beaches holds its first Rainbow Ball.
2002 - Compass holds its first Stonewall Ball.
2003
- West Palm Beach extends lifetime health insurance benefits to the
surviving domestic partner of any city employee killed in the line of
duty
2003 - The Palm Beach County School Board adopts a
policy to protect students against harassment based on actual or
perceived sexual orientation.
2003 - Lake Worth amends the city's Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
2003 - Voices of Pride , a local gay men’s chorus, is founded.
2003- A gay couple settles their housing discrimination lawsuit against a Boca Raton apartment complex for $75,000.
2003
- Michael Woods, an openly gay man and COMPASS Board Member, is
recognized as Special Olympics New Coach of the Year by Special Olympics
- Palm Beach County.
2003 - Chuck Wolfe, an openly gay
man, becomes CEO and President of The Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund,
which has helped elect thousands of openly LGBT candidates to local,
state and federal offices.
2004 - The Office of the Clerk and Comptroller offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2004
- The Office of the Supervisor of Elections becomes the first local
public employer to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and
expression.
2004 - The Port of Palm Beach offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2004
- Tom Gerrard, an openly gay man, is appointed to the Manalapan Town
Commission. (He was subsequently elected to the Town Commission in 2005
and 2007).
2004 - Lake Worth offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2004 - John Herrick, an openly gay man, is elected Treasurer of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County.
2004
- Michael Woods, an openly gay man and COMPASS Board Member, is awarded
the Dwyer Award for Excellence in Education by the Economic Council of
Palm Beach County and the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County.
2004 - The Palm Beach County Property Appraiser offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2005 - West Palm Beach establishes a Domestic Partnership Registry.
2005 - The Pride Business Alliance is established.
2005 - The Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County presents the Community Service Award to PBCHRC Founder Rand Hoch.
2005 - Belle Glade amends its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy to include sexual orientation
2006
- Belle Glade enacts s Special Event Permit Ordinance specifically
prohibiting discrimination based on “sexual orientation or gender
related grounds.”
2006 - Palm Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006
- Matthew McWatters, an openly gay man, is elected to serve as
Secretary of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee.
2006 - The School District of Palm Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006
- J.P. Sasser, who was first elected Mayor of Pahokee in 2000, comes
out publically as a gay man. Sasser served as Mayor from 2000 to 2008
and from 2010 to the present).
2006 - The Office of the Supervisor of Elections offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006
- Betty James, an open lesbian, is appointed Mayor of Cloud Lake.
(James was subsequently elected Mayor in 2008 and served through 2011).
2006
- The Office of the Tax Collector revises its non-discrimination policy
to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
2006 - The Office of the Tax Collector offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006 - Palm Beach County establishes a Domestic Partnership Registry.
2006 - Delray Beach offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006
- The Palm Beach County School Board adopts a Commercial
Nondiscrimination Policy which prohibits the School District from doing
business with firms which discriminate on the basis of race, gender,
religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age,
disability, or any other form of unlawful discrimination.
2006
- The Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University trustees adopts
an Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Regulation covering all
classes protected by law. (Gay men and lesbians at FAU's Palm Beach and
Broward campuses would be covered under the regulation because such
discrimination is prohibited by county ordinances.)
2006 - West Palm Beach extends health insurance continuation coverage (COBRA) to city employees with domestic partners.
2006 - Palm Tran offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2006
- At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, Palm
Beach County School Board Chairman Tom Lynch apologizes for referring to
the LGBT community as a “protected species” at a School Board meeting.
2006 - Tom Lynch decides not to seek re-election to the School Board.
2006
- Mark Foley, who represented Palm Beach County in the U.S. House of
Representatives from 2005 through 2011 resigns from Congress after
allegations surfaced that he was gay and had sent suggestive emails and
instant to Congressional pages,
2007- West Palm Beach
amends its Equal Opportunity Ordinance to prohibit discrimination based
on gender identity or expression in private and public employment,
housing and public accommodation.
2007 - Lake Worth amends the city's Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression.
2007, Kerry Gallagher, an open lesbian, is elected Chairman of the Board of The Lord's Place, a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Palm Beach County.
2007 - Jupiter offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2007
- Deidre Newton, an open lesbian and PBCHRC Vice Chair, is appointed
to the Florida Financial Literacy Council by Alex Sink, Florida's Chief
Financial Officer.
2007 - Juno Beach revises its non-discrimination and harassment awareness policies to include sexual orientation.
2007
- Juno Beach revises the definition of "immediate family" with regard
to bereavement leave to include an employee's "significant other."
2007 - Hypoluxo amends its non-discrimination policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
2007
- The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office amends it's nondiscrimination
policy to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and
marital status.
2007 - The Health Care District of Palm
Beach County offers family health insurance coverage for employees with
domestic partners.
2007 - The Solid Waste Authority updates its nondiscrimination policies in early 2007 to include sexual orientation
2007 - The Solid Waste Authority offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2007
- Palm Beach County amends its Equal Employment Ordinance to prohibit
discrimination based on gender identity and expression.
2007
- Tequesta enacts comprehensive policies prohibiting discrimination
based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
2007
- Royal Palm Beach amends its Equal Employment Opportunity Policy and
its Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination Policy to prohibit
discrimination based on sexual orientation.
2007 - The
Palm Beach County Bar Association adopts and LGBT inclusive
anti-discrimination policy, becoming the first County bar association in
Florida to do so.
2007 - At the request of the Palm
Beach County Human Rights Council, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex
Sink becomes the first constitutional officer in Florida history to
officially recognize our families by revising her office's sick leave
policy to allow employees to opportunity to use sick leave to care for
domestic partners.
2007 - Palm Beach Gardens City Council implements basic domestic partner benefits for city employees.
2007
- The Board of Trustees of Palm Beach Community College rejects
PBCHRC’s request to provide domestic partnership benefits for college
employees.
2007 - The Palm Beach County Human Rights
Council launches a successful “Pets, Not Partners” campaign after Palm
Beach Community College offers its employees pet health insurance months
after the college’s Board of Trustees voted against offering health
insurance to employees’ domestic partners.
2008 - Palm Beach Community College offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2008
- At the request of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council
then-State Senator (now Congressman) Ted Deutch (D-Boca Raton) and
then-State Senator (now Florida CFO) Jeff Atwater ®-North Palm Beach)
co-introduce legislation to amend the Florida Civil Rights Act and
Florida Fair Housing Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual
orientation. The bill is passed by the Florida Senate Commerce
Committee, with four Republicans and three Democrats voted to pass the
bill, and with one Republican voting against the bill). This historic
vote remains the only time in the history of the Florida Legislature
that a civil rights bill including sexual orientation has ever passed a
legislative committee.
2008 - The Palm Beach County
School Board expands the definition of "family" in the School District's
Leave of Absence policy to include employees' domestic partners and
their children.
2008 - The Palm Beach County School
Board includes sexual orientation, gender identity and gender
expression as protected classes in a comprehensive policy protecting
students against bullying and harassment.
2008 -
Tequesta revises its collective bargaining agreements and its employee
handbook to include domestic partners as members of employee's immediate
family.
2008 - Tom Gerrard, an openly gay man is
appointed to fill vacancy as Mayor of Manalapan. (Subsequently elected
Mayor in 2009, he served through 2011).
2008 - Michael
Ira Thayer, an openly gay man, is appointed to serve on the Platform
Committee of the Democratic National Committee.
2008 - BLAST (Bi, Lesbian and Straight Together) Women of West Palm Beach is founded.
2008 - Kerry Gallagher, an open lesbian, is appointed to the Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board.
2008
- The Palm Beach County Office of Equal Opportunity rules that the
School District has discriminated against employees with domestic
partners by charging them higher health insurance premiums than married
couples must pay. (The School District subsequently settles the cases
brought by two lesbian couples).
2008 - Kendall Rumsey, an openly gay man, is elected to the Lake Park Town Commission.
2009
- The Palm Beach County Children's Services Council offers family
health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2009 - Susan Stanton, a transsexual woman is hired to serve Lake Worth City Manager.
2009 - Seacoast Utility Authority offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2009
- The School District of Palm Beach County includes the children of
employees' domestic partners as eligible dependents for health insurance
coverage.
2010 - The Palm Beach County School Board
revises all of the School District’s nondiscrimination policies to
prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and
gender expression.
2010 - Wellington plays host to the world's first international gay polo tournament.
2010 - Kendall Rumsey is appointed Vice Mayor of Lake Park.
2010 - Michael Fowler, an openly gay man lesbian, was
appointed Vice President of Information Management at
NextEra (Florida Power and Light).
2010 - Deidre Newton, an open lesbian, is elected to serve as
Vice Chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee.
2011 - Wellington offers family health insurance coverage for employees with domestic partners.
2011
- Wellington amends their non-discrimination policies to prohibit
discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender
expression.
2011 - In an incredible act of public
bigotry, Boca Raton’s Mayor Susan Whelchel and Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie
join Boca Raton City Council Members Anthony Majhess, Constance Scott
and Michael Mullaugh in unanimously voting to opt-out of the Palm Beach
County Equal Employment Ordinance, leaving LGBT workers’ in Boca Raton
with no legal recourse in cases of employment discrimination.
2011 - The Office of the State Attorney revises its Harassment Policy to include gender identity or expression.
2011
- The Office of the State Attorney revises its Family Medical Leave
Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic
partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized
marriages.
2011 - West Palm Beach revises its Family
Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on
domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally
recognized marriages.
2011 - Openly gay businessman Andy Amoroso is elected to the Lake Worth City Commission.
2011
- The Office of the Public Defender revises its Family Medical Leave
Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on domestic
partnerships as are provided to families based on legally recognized
marriages.
2011 - The Rusty Gordon Democratic Caucus is established.
2011
- Palm Beach County revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide
the same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are
provided to families based on legally recognized marriages.
2011
- The Board of Trustees of Florida Atlantic University adds sexual
orientation to the school’s Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment
Regulation.
2012 - NextEra (Florida Power and Light) based in Juno Beach, implements domestic partner benefits for its employees.
2012
- Delray Beach revises its Family Medical Leave Policy to provide the
same benefits to families based on domestic partnerships as are provided
to families based on legally recognized marriages.
2012 - Palm Beach County amends its Nondiscrimination in Contracting Policy to include gender identity or expression.
2012
- The Palm Beach County School Board creates a 24 member School
District Diversity and Equity Committee, which includes a representative
appointed by PBCHRC and another appointed by COMPASS, Palm Beach
County’s LGBT Community Center.
2012 - The West Palm Beach Housing Authority adds gender identity or expression to its nondiscrimination policy.
2012
- The Office of the Clerk and Comptroller revises its Family
Medical Leave Policy to provide the same benefits to families based on
domestic partnerships as are provided to families based on legally
recognized marriages.
2012 - Michael Fowler, an openly gay man lesbian, was
appointed to serve on Palm Beach County School District's Technical Advisory Council.
2012
- Florida Atlantic University's Student Government passes a resolution
recommending that FAU's Board of Trustees include "gender identity or
expression" in the university's Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment
Regulation.
2012 - Boca Raton refused to sign a
contract with the Solid Waste Authority for a County grant to handle
emergency response to hazardous materials for the sole reason that the
contract required Boca Raton to agree to treat its employees equally
without regard to sexual orientation, gender identity and gender
expression. The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners gives
Boca Raton 60 days to either sign the contract as presented or forfeit
more than $1.2 million in grants over a five year period.
2012-
Palm Beach County School District Superintendent E. Wayne Gent and the
Palm Beach County School Board jointly issue a proclamation declaring
October 2012 as LGBT History Month.
2012 - Openly gay Christian recording artist Shawn Thomas is inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame.
2012 - The Boca Raton City Council votes
unanimously to appoint Tyler Francis Morrison, an openly gay student at
the Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, to the city's Community
Relations Board.
2013 - Palm Beach County Property
Appraiser Gary Nikolits implements a tax equity policy providing
eligible employees with domestic partners a $500 annual stipend to
offset the additional federal income taxes which assessed on employees
whose domestic partners receive health insurance through their
employers.
2013 - Palm Beach County's Constitutional
Tax Collector Anne Gannon implements a tax equity policy providing
eligible employees with
domestic partners a $500 annual stipend to offset the additional federal
income taxes which assessed on employees whose domestic partners
receive health insurance through their employers.
2013 - The Town of South Palm Beach added "sexual orientation" and "any other legally protected status" to the Town's nondiscrimination statement.
2013 - The Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority adds gender identity or expression to its nondiscrimination policy.
2013 - The Boca Raton Community Relations Board votes unanimously to recommend that the City Council to amend its enabling ordinance to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression".
Thursday, February 21, 2013
PBCHRC Asks Palm Beach Gardens to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits
Advocate Asks South Florida City Leaders to Offer Domestic Partner Benefits for LGBT Employees
Written by Dylan Bouscher
South Florida Gay News
February 19, 2013
Jessica Blackman wrote a Valentine's Day letter to the Palm Beach Gardens city council. She didn't ask them out - she asked the council to "offer identical family benefits to all of its employees."
According to the Human Rights Campaign, "When employees elect health insurance coverage from their employers for their families, the majority of their employers contribute to at least half of the insurance coverage's cost. For employees with different-sex spouses, federal and state tax law do not require employers to report their contribution to the employee's or the employee's different-sex spouse as taxable wages earned."
Employees with same-sex
partners or spouses, on the other hand, must report their employer's
contribution as taxable wages earned. Some cities, like Oakland Park
and Hallandale Beach, reimburse employees with same-sex partners paying
these taxes. Palm Beach Gardens does not.
In her letter, Blackman, the vice president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council,
commended the city's leadership for unanimously supporting
non-economic benefits like personal, acute illness, and bereavement
leaves, as well as access to the Employee Assistance Program, amid an
economic collapse in 2007.
"Fortunately,
the economy has turned around," Blackman wrote. She adds that the
city's fiscal management has led to a surplus, and that local property
values are stable to support her claim.
And
according to a report attached to Blackman's letter, 2.2 percent of
the city's employees have domestic partners. The report also found
there are more than 60 public employers in Florida already offering
domestic partner benefits for their employees, and most employers
offering domestic partner benefits report a less-than-one-percent
increase in total benefit costs.
But
the report does not confirm exactly how much extending coverage would
cost Palm Beach Gardens, or exactly how much the city's surplus is this
fiscal year. SFGN contacted Palm Beach Gardens Vice Mayor Bert
Premuroso for comment, but as of publication time, he could not be
reached.
"We're
really just pushing Palm Beach Gardens to step up now that money
doesn't necessarily seem to be an issue," Blackman told SFGN. "I haven't
received a response from anybody, negative or positive, so we're being
optimistic."
Monday, February 18, 2013
PBCHRC Voters Alliance Endorses Gregg Weiss for West Palm Beach City Commission
The
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance has endorsed
Gregg Weiss in his race for the West Palm Beach City Commission District
5 seat. The Voters Alliance is dedicated to electing candidates who
will work to end discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender
identity and gender expression.
"Since 1988, our organization has endorsed candidates who support our community's initiatives," said Rand Hoch, Chair of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance. "Having interviewed both candidates, we have determined Gregg Weiss is better informed about what our elected officials must do to address the unique concerns of the West Palm Beach gay and lesbian community."
From 2000 to 2012, the District 5 seat was held by Bill Moss, who died suddenly last year shortly after his re-election.
"Bill Moss was an eloquent and outspoken advocate for the rights of the city's minorities and women," said Hoch. "The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance firmly believes Gregg Weiss is best qualified to pick up where Bill left off."
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance." said Weiss. "Commissioner Moss was a champion of LGBT issues and I hope to continue where he left off as City Commissioner. Throughout my years of public service I have supported LGBT causes and issues. It is important that every person who works for the City or comes before the City is treated fairly and equally and I am committed to that process."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance, which is known throughout the county for its successful get-out-the vote drives, has also endorsed Allan Hendricks for Boynton Beach City Commission (Seat 3), J. P. Sasser for Pahokee Mayor and David Levy for Palm Beach Garden City Council (District 1). Additional municipal candidates seeking the Voters Alliance endorsement will be interviewed in within the next two weeks.
"Over the past 25 years, we have trained our supporters to become 'super-voters' -- citizens who vote in every federal, state and local election," said Hoch. "Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance supporters make up a large voting bloc which often makes a significant difference in low-turnout elections."
According to Hoch, the March 12 municipal election is expected to be a low turnout-election.
"Since 1988, our organization has endorsed candidates who support our community's initiatives," said Rand Hoch, Chair of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance. "Having interviewed both candidates, we have determined Gregg Weiss is better informed about what our elected officials must do to address the unique concerns of the West Palm Beach gay and lesbian community."
From 2000 to 2012, the District 5 seat was held by Bill Moss, who died suddenly last year shortly after his re-election.
"Bill Moss was an eloquent and outspoken advocate for the rights of the city's minorities and women," said Hoch. "The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance firmly believes Gregg Weiss is best qualified to pick up where Bill left off."
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance." said Weiss. "Commissioner Moss was a champion of LGBT issues and I hope to continue where he left off as City Commissioner. Throughout my years of public service I have supported LGBT causes and issues. It is important that every person who works for the City or comes before the City is treated fairly and equally and I am committed to that process."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance, which is known throughout the county for its successful get-out-the vote drives, has also endorsed Allan Hendricks for Boynton Beach City Commission (Seat 3), J. P. Sasser for Pahokee Mayor and David Levy for Palm Beach Garden City Council (District 1). Additional municipal candidates seeking the Voters Alliance endorsement will be interviewed in within the next two weeks.
"Over the past 25 years, we have trained our supporters to become 'super-voters' -- citizens who vote in every federal, state and local election," said Hoch. "Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Voters Alliance supporters make up a large voting bloc which often makes a significant difference in low-turnout elections."
According to Hoch, the March 12 municipal election is expected to be a low turnout-election.
_____________________________________________________________
This paid electioneering communication,
which is independent of any party, candidate or committee, is produced,
sponsored and paid for by the The Palm Beach County Human Rights
Council Voters Alliance. Friday, December 21, 2012
Boca Raton Appoints Openly Gay 17-year-old Tyler Morrison to City's Community Relations Board
South Florida Gay News - Written by Dylan Bouscher
December 19, 2012
Tyler Morrison went from speaking out against the Boca Raton City Council's lack of LGBT protection, to becoming one its employees, who is now unprotected by a 46-year-old anti-discrimination policy.
Boca
Raton became the only city in Palm Beach County to opt-out of
protecting its LGBT employees when it passed Ordinance 5161 in January
2011. Morrison, a gay 17-year-old Boca Raton resident, introduced
himself to the City Council at its Nov. 14 meeting. Once there, he
urged the council members to update a 46-year-old anti-discrimination
policy to include protection for the city's LGBT employees.
When city council member Constance Scott supported Morrison and asked the rest of the council what prevented them from moving into the 21st century, Morrison cried.
Then, at their Dec. 11 meeting, the Boca Raton City Council unanimously appointed Morrison to the city's community relations board.
When city council member Constance Scott supported Morrison and asked the rest of the council what prevented them from moving into the 21st century, Morrison cried.
Then, at their Dec. 11 meeting, the Boca Raton City Council unanimously appointed Morrison to the city's community relations board.
"He
seemed like such an articulate and dedicated young man who wanted to
get involved," Susan Haynie, Boca Raton's Deputy Mayor, told SFGN after
the meeting. "And I suggested that serving on one of the city's
advisory boards was the perfect vehicle for him to get involved with our
community."
Morrison, however, wasn't at the meeting where the council appointed him. He was playing oboe at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in his school's holiday concert.
"I tried to log on to watch the meeting live, and the Internet wasn't allowing me to view the live video feed," Morrison said. "So it was a little frustrating at first."
Then Rand Hoch, the President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), left Morrison a face book comment congratulating him for the unanimous appointment.
Morrison, however, wasn't at the meeting where the council appointed him. He was playing oboe at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in his school's holiday concert.
"I tried to log on to watch the meeting live, and the Internet wasn't allowing me to view the live video feed," Morrison said. "So it was a little frustrating at first."
Then Rand Hoch, the President of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (PBCHRC), left Morrison a face book comment congratulating him for the unanimous appointment.
"This makes you, probably, the youngest openly gay appointed public official in Florida. Congrats," Hoch wrote.
The
PBCHRC is a local non-profit focused on eliminating discrimination
based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Recently, they have been pushing the Boca Raton City Council to rescind
Ordinance 5161 and update its policy along with Morrison.
"I'm not so interested in the title or being the first this, or first that," Morrison said. "It doesn't matter unless I do something about it. I'm looking forward to what I can do."
Hoch came across the community relations board vacancy while researching the Boca Raton city council's anti-discrimination policy. He also encouraged Morrison to apply for the position.
"We discussed it, and he thought that would be something worthwhile to apply to because, at the time, there was no LGBT representation on the Board," Hoch said. "And he's extremely interested in participatory government."
"I'm not so interested in the title or being the first this, or first that," Morrison said. "It doesn't matter unless I do something about it. I'm looking forward to what I can do."
Hoch came across the community relations board vacancy while researching the Boca Raton city council's anti-discrimination policy. He also encouraged Morrison to apply for the position.
"We discussed it, and he thought that would be something worthwhile to apply to because, at the time, there was no LGBT representation on the Board," Hoch said. "And he's extremely interested in participatory government."
Extremely interested is an understatement. Morrison wants to run for Mayor of Boca Raton in 2014.
"I
think he's got to put in his time, before he becomes a viable
candidate for Mayor," Hoch said. "One of the ways you do that is to run
for city council and one of the ways you do that is to be on the
community relations board. But there's a lot of time between now and
March 2014, when the election is. Who knows, with his experience on the
community relations board, he could be a viable candidate."
Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie agrees Morrison needs time.
"I would like to speak with him about that," Haynie said. "I really want to educate him on what kind of a commitment that truly is too. But for now I think board service is the perfect place for him."
"I would like to speak with him about that," Haynie said. "I really want to educate him on what kind of a commitment that truly is too. But for now I think board service is the perfect place for him."
In
the meantime, Morrison is focused on using his new position to expand
LGBT rights in the city. He's starting with the anti-discrimination
policy.
"Absolutely, absolutely, 100 percent, there's not a doubt in my mind it should be updated," Morrison said.
Friday, December 7, 2012
PBCHRC to Boca: Extend domestic partner benefits now
"We're not asking for anything radical"
By Anne Geggis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 6, 2012|
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-12-06/news/fl-boca-human-rights-domestic-partners-20121206_1_domestic-partners-mike-woika-gender-expression
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Thursday formally asked again that the Boca Raton City Council recognize the domestic partners of city employees as family members — and extend them the benefits legal spouses receive.
Boca Raton is the biggest Palm Beach County city that hasn't yet done it, said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
"We're asking the city of Boca Raton to do what the city of West Palm Beach did in February 1992 – 20 years ago," Hoch said. "We're not asking for anything radical. We're asking for them to treat their employees and their employees' families equally."
City Council members asked City Manager Leif Ahnell last month to prepare some information on what it would mean for the city to adopt a policy that recognizes domestic partners. They also wanted to know what it would mean for the city to fully embrace the county's equal employment opportunity policy — which says the county will not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression.
Mayor Susan Whelchel said she's waiting to see that report before she'll agree with the Human Rights Council's suggestion. But the item is not on next week's City Council agenda, said Mike Woika, assistant city manager.
"We asked the city manager to look around at what other cities are doing and, it hasn't come to us as of this moment," Whelchel said. "I don't know what the costs are, what the consequences of these changes to the city are."
Hoch said that domestic partnership benefits are currently offered by the municipalities of Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and West Palm Beach, and also by Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County School District, the Port of Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Health Care District, Palm Beach State College, the Children's Services Council, Palm Tran, Seacoast Utility Authority, the Solid Waste Authority and all five of Palm Beach County's elected officials.
Boca has been on the Human Rights Council president's radar since a contract snag brought to light a City Council ordinance passed in January 2011. In that ordinance, Boca Raton opted out of including sexual orientation and gender expression as the county's equal employment policy does. The snag in the contract was resolved 30 days later when language was added to the contract providing that Boca Raton would not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, without requiring the city to provide benefits to gay domestic partners.
Hoch said many of the changes he's suggested to Boca Raton's policy won't cost much. In addition to health benefits, the proposed changes to Boca's policies would also mean, for example, that people can get bereavement leave if their domestic partner's mother dies or if a domestic partner falls ill.
In Florida, domestic partners can't legally become spouses.
"We're just asking for people to be treated the same way," Hoch said. "They are talking maybe three to five employees, at most. You are either going to treat people fairly or you are going to discriminate against them."
By Anne Geggis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
December 6, 2012|
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-12-06/news/fl-boca-human-rights-domestic-partners-20121206_1_domestic-partners-mike-woika-gender-expression
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council Thursday formally asked again that the Boca Raton City Council recognize the domestic partners of city employees as family members — and extend them the benefits legal spouses receive.
Boca Raton is the biggest Palm Beach County city that hasn't yet done it, said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council.
"We're asking the city of Boca Raton to do what the city of West Palm Beach did in February 1992 – 20 years ago," Hoch said. "We're not asking for anything radical. We're asking for them to treat their employees and their employees' families equally."
City Council members asked City Manager Leif Ahnell last month to prepare some information on what it would mean for the city to adopt a policy that recognizes domestic partners. They also wanted to know what it would mean for the city to fully embrace the county's equal employment opportunity policy — which says the county will not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender expression.
Mayor Susan Whelchel said she's waiting to see that report before she'll agree with the Human Rights Council's suggestion. But the item is not on next week's City Council agenda, said Mike Woika, assistant city manager.
"We asked the city manager to look around at what other cities are doing and, it hasn't come to us as of this moment," Whelchel said. "I don't know what the costs are, what the consequences of these changes to the city are."
Hoch said that domestic partnership benefits are currently offered by the municipalities of Delray Beach, Jupiter, Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and West Palm Beach, and also by Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach County School District, the Port of Palm Beach, the Palm Beach County Health Care District, Palm Beach State College, the Children's Services Council, Palm Tran, Seacoast Utility Authority, the Solid Waste Authority and all five of Palm Beach County's elected officials.
Boca has been on the Human Rights Council president's radar since a contract snag brought to light a City Council ordinance passed in January 2011. In that ordinance, Boca Raton opted out of including sexual orientation and gender expression as the county's equal employment policy does. The snag in the contract was resolved 30 days later when language was added to the contract providing that Boca Raton would not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, without requiring the city to provide benefits to gay domestic partners.
Hoch said many of the changes he's suggested to Boca Raton's policy won't cost much. In addition to health benefits, the proposed changes to Boca's policies would also mean, for example, that people can get bereavement leave if their domestic partner's mother dies or if a domestic partner falls ill.
In Florida, domestic partners can't legally become spouses.
"We're just asking for people to be treated the same way," Hoch said. "They are talking maybe three to five employees, at most. You are either going to treat people fairly or you are going to discriminate against them."
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Boca Raton City Council To Consider LGBT-Inclusive Nondiscrimination Policies
At last week's Boca Raton City Council meeting,City Attorney Diane Grub Frieser was directed to research updating the city's nondiscrimination policies to include sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression and to report back to the council "in the very near future."
The action was taken following heartfelt comments made by Boca Raton native Tyler Morrison, a high school student at the Dreyfus School of the Arts.
"Currently in Boca Raton, LGBT employees have no legal recourse to protect themselves. LGBT employees are fair game for discriminatory acts," said Morrison. "It is simply unacceptable."
Boca Raton's longstanding animus against its gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming municipal employees came to light again two months ago when it was revealed that the city had quietly opted out of Palm Beach County's Equal Employment Ordinance in 2011.
The county ordinance provides legal recourse to individuals who may have been subjected to discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
"Since no federal or state law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, the Palm Beach County Equal Employment Ordinance provided the only legal recourse to gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees working for the City of Boca Raton," said Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "Boca Raton's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees were stripped of all of their civil rights in 2011."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is a local non-profit organization which, since 1988, has been dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. It promotes equality, through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach.
"Since we had no idea just who it was in city hall that was responsible for taking away the all of the rights of the city's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees, we filed a series of public records requests to find out," said Hoch.
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council also launched its "Boca Bigots Run City Hall" media campaign to prevent city officials from ignoring the issue.
When Boca Raton failed to timely provide the requested public records, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council hired attorney W. Trent Steele to file suit against the city for violations of the Florida Public Records Act. Shortly thereafter, the city began to produce some of the requested documents.
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council attorneys reviewed hundreds of pages of public records in an attempt to discover who was behind Boca Raton's discriminatory actions against the city's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees.
That review led to the conclusion that the city attorney and City Manager Leif Ahnell had not provided complete and accurate information when the city council opted-out of the Palm Beach County Equal Employment Ordinance back in 2011.
"I do not believe that a majority of the members of the Boca Raton City Council have any problems protecting the rights of Boca Raton's gay, lesbian and gender-nonconforming employees," said Hoch. "Unfortunately, over the past few years, they made some very harmful decisions because city staff did not provide them accurate and complete information."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council took steps to provide the city council members with the information that had been withheld by city administrators. That information, along with Morrison's eloquent public comments at last week's city council meeting, moved the council to take action.
Immediately after City Council Member Constance Scott initiated the discussion on updating the city's nondiscrimination policies, the city attorney took an offensive position, as she had done previously. However, it was obvious she had little support from the city council members.
In response to questioning by Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie, City Attorney Freiser was forced to admit that Boca Raton had not updated its list of protected classes in the Boca Raton Code of Ordinances since 1966.
"It is frightening that we have not looked at the policies since then," declared Haynie.
"Based on the comments made at the meeting, it appears that had the city council been presented with full and accurate information back in 2011, they would not have opted-out of the county's Equal Employment Ordinance," said Hoch.
"The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is particularly encouraged by the hands-on approach taken by Deputy Mayor Haynie and City Council Member Scott," said Hoch. "It is our hope that the City of Boca Raton will soon rescind the 2011 opt-out ordinance, adopt LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination policies, and offer the full range of domestic partnership benefits to its lesbian and gay employees."
____________________________________________
TAKE ACTION
Send an e-mail message to the members of the Boca Raton City Council, thanking them for agreeing to update the city's nondiscrimination policies.
Step one: Cut and past these e-mail addresses onto your "To" Line.
swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Step two: When your e-mail pops up, type the following in the "Subject" line:
Thank you.
Step three: Compose a personal message to all five Council Members or cut and past the following message:
Thank you for directing staff to update the city's nondiscrimination policies to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression." Be sure to rescind Boca Raton Ordinance 5161 to provide your female and minority employees local recourse in the event they feel they have been discriminated against.
Also, please consider offering he full range of domestic partnership benefits to city employees.
Step four: Hit send.
Step five: Forward this to your supportive friends and family, so they may take action as well.
The Boca Raton City Council Members are:
Mayor Susan Whelchel
swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie
shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Anthony Majhess
amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Constance J. Scott
cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Michael Mullaugh
mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
The action was taken following heartfelt comments made by Boca Raton native Tyler Morrison, a high school student at the Dreyfus School of the Arts.
"Currently in Boca Raton, LGBT employees have no legal recourse to protect themselves. LGBT employees are fair game for discriminatory acts," said Morrison. "It is simply unacceptable."
Boca Raton's longstanding animus against its gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming municipal employees came to light again two months ago when it was revealed that the city had quietly opted out of Palm Beach County's Equal Employment Ordinance in 2011.
The county ordinance provides legal recourse to individuals who may have been subjected to discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
"Since no federal or state law prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, the Palm Beach County Equal Employment Ordinance provided the only legal recourse to gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees working for the City of Boca Raton," said Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council. "Boca Raton's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees were stripped of all of their civil rights in 2011."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is a local non-profit organization which, since 1988, has been dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. It promotes equality, through education, advocacy, direct action, impact litigation, and community outreach.
"Since we had no idea just who it was in city hall that was responsible for taking away the all of the rights of the city's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees, we filed a series of public records requests to find out," said Hoch.
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council also launched its "Boca Bigots Run City Hall" media campaign to prevent city officials from ignoring the issue.
When Boca Raton failed to timely provide the requested public records, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council hired attorney W. Trent Steele to file suit against the city for violations of the Florida Public Records Act. Shortly thereafter, the city began to produce some of the requested documents.
Palm Beach County Human Rights Council attorneys reviewed hundreds of pages of public records in an attempt to discover who was behind Boca Raton's discriminatory actions against the city's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees.
That review led to the conclusion that the city attorney and City Manager Leif Ahnell had not provided complete and accurate information when the city council opted-out of the Palm Beach County Equal Employment Ordinance back in 2011.
"I do not believe that a majority of the members of the Boca Raton City Council have any problems protecting the rights of Boca Raton's gay, lesbian and gender-nonconforming employees," said Hoch. "Unfortunately, over the past few years, they made some very harmful decisions because city staff did not provide them accurate and complete information."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council took steps to provide the city council members with the information that had been withheld by city administrators. That information, along with Morrison's eloquent public comments at last week's city council meeting, moved the council to take action.
Immediately after City Council Member Constance Scott initiated the discussion on updating the city's nondiscrimination policies, the city attorney took an offensive position, as she had done previously. However, it was obvious she had little support from the city council members.
In response to questioning by Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie, City Attorney Freiser was forced to admit that Boca Raton had not updated its list of protected classes in the Boca Raton Code of Ordinances since 1966.
"It is frightening that we have not looked at the policies since then," declared Haynie.
"Based on the comments made at the meeting, it appears that had the city council been presented with full and accurate information back in 2011, they would not have opted-out of the county's Equal Employment Ordinance," said Hoch.
"The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is particularly encouraged by the hands-on approach taken by Deputy Mayor Haynie and City Council Member Scott," said Hoch. "It is our hope that the City of Boca Raton will soon rescind the 2011 opt-out ordinance, adopt LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination policies, and offer the full range of domestic partnership benefits to its lesbian and gay employees."
____________________________________________
TAKE ACTION
Send an e-mail message to the members of the Boca Raton City Council, thanking them for agreeing to update the city's nondiscrimination policies.
Step one: Cut and past these e-mail addresses onto your "To" Line.
swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us,mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Step two: When your e-mail pops up, type the following in the "Subject" line:
Thank you.
Step three: Compose a personal message to all five Council Members or cut and past the following message:
Thank you for directing staff to update the city's nondiscrimination policies to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity or expression." Be sure to rescind Boca Raton Ordinance 5161 to provide your female and minority employees local recourse in the event they feel they have been discriminated against.
Also, please consider offering he full range of domestic partnership benefits to city employees.
Step four: Hit send.
Step five: Forward this to your supportive friends and family, so they may take action as well.
The Boca Raton City Council Members are:
Mayor Susan Whelchel
swhelchel@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie
shaynie@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Anthony Majhess
amajhess@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Constance J. Scott
cscott@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Council Member Michael Mullaugh
mmullaugh@ci.boca-raton.fl.us
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Boca Bigots Update: Boca Raton City Attorney Lied To City Council About Nondiscrimination Ordinance
November 2, 2012
(Boca Raton, Florida) In response to the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council's ongoing "Boca Bigots Run City Hall" media campaign, Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie took time out at last week's City Council meeting to address "a lot of e-mail accusing us of discriminatory action and bigotry."
"We are not discriminatory. We are not bigoted here in our community," Haynie insisted before asking City Attorney Diana Grub Frieser to explain that the charges "are certainly unfounded."
"The City has had its own 'equal employment, equal opportunity ordinance' in effect for many years and we have always followed that ordinance," Frieser told the City Council. "It is fully compliant with state and federal law and has always been an appropriate ordinance."
In her remarks, Frieser made no less than ten references to the city's "equal employment, equal opportunity ordinance".
The problem is, no such ordinance appears to exist.
"That is just another lie from the bigots who run Boca Raton city hall," said Palm Beach County Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch. "Contrary to the repeated assertions of Boca Raton's City Attorney, no equal employment or equal opportunity ordinance appears in the Code of Ordinances of the City of Boca Raton."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is a local nonprofit organization, founded in 1988, which is dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
In an attempt to determine whether Boca Raton ever enacted an ordinance, but somehow did not include it in the Code of Ordinances, the Human Rights Council filed a public records request to obtain a copy of the alleged ordinance.
"If Boca Raton has an equal employment opportunity ordinance in effect, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council wants to review it and learn how it came into existence," said Hoch.
However, Hoch is not optimistic that the City will respond.
"We have repeatedly written to the members of the Boca Raton City Council and we have filed five different public records requests with the city so far this year," said Hoch. "To date, we have not heard from the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor or any of the City Council Members. Nor has a single document been produced in response to any of our public records requests."
The Human Rights Council retained attorney W. Trent Steele to to file suit against Boca Raton for its failure to comply with Florida's Public Records Act.
"If Boca produces an 'equal employment, equal opportunity ordinance', I will personally apologize to Ms. Frieser for calling her a liar," said Hoch. "However, I will not apologize to any of the Boca officials for calling them bigots - because I believe that is what they are."
The city's issues with discrimination came to light again last month when Boca Raton officials informed Palm Beach County Commissioners that the city would not sign an interlocal agreement with the county as long as it required Boca Raton to state that the city does not discriminate against its employees on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Palm Beach County's Nondiscrimination in Contracting Policy prohibits the county from funding any entity that practices discrimination which the County has determined to be unlawful. The policy also requires a specific nondiscrimination provision to be included in all county contracts.
The County's Equal Employment Ordinance protects employees from discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Although County Commissioner Steven Abrams, a former mayor of Boca Raton, attempted to persuade his colleagues to remove "gender identity or expression" from the interlocal agreement, the Commissioners voted unanimously to include all of the protected classes in the agreement.
The Commissioners gave Boca Raton 60 days to either execute the agreement including the County's nondiscrimination language or to forfeit the $1.2 million in County funding to be used for cleaning up hazardous materials in Boca Raton.
At last week's City Council meeting, Boca Raton acquiesced to the County's terms in order to secure the County's money.
The dispute between Boca Raton and Palm Beach County on discrimination issues has been brewing for several years.
Under Palm Beach County's Equal Employment Ordinance, the County's Office of Equal Opportunity is charged with investigating and resolving charges of discrimination.
"Since the federal government and the State of Florida have refused to enact laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, Palm Beach County's Equal Employment Ordinance provides the only legal recourse to gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming employees working in Palm Beach County," said Hoch.
Last month, both the Human Rights Council and the County Attorney learned that in 2011, Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Susan Haynie asked the Boca Raton City Council to pass an ordinance allowing Boca Raton to opt out of the County's Equal Employment Ordinance.
After Haynie's motion was seconded by Mayor Susan Whelchel, Boca Raton Ordinance No. 5161 was unanimously enacted by the City Council.
"It took less than two minutes for the bigots who run Boca Raton City Hall to strip away all of the civil rights previously held by the City's gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming municipal employees, " said Hoch. "That one vote by the bigots who run Boca Raton left their gay, lesbian and gender non-conforming municipal employees without any legal recourse to challenge employment discrimination."
Within days of learning that Boca Raton had opted out of the County's Equal Employment ordinance, the Human Rights Council sent letters to Mayor Whelchel, Deputy Mayor Haynie and Boca Raton City Council Members Anthony Majhess, Constance Scott and Michael Mullaugh urging them "take prompt action to rescind City of Boca Raton Ordinance No. 5161."
Although no one from the City Council -- or anyone employed by the City of Boca Raton -- ever responded to the letters from the Human Rights Council, that has not deterred the civil rights organization..
The Human Rights Council sent a follow-up letter to Deputy Mayor Haynie asking her "to take an objective look" at what Boca Raton has actually done concerning discrimination.
"Perhaps you would see that the City of Boca Raton is, in fact, discriminating," Hoch wrote. "And this is not just against the City's lesbian, gay and gender nonconforming employees, but also against women and other minorities working for the City."
Hoch also informed Haynie that, from his review of the City's Code of Ordinance, it appeared that Boca Raton had not updated the classes of people protected from discrimination since 1966.
"In the 46 years which have passed since the City of Boca Raton addressed discrimination ..., the federal government has prohibited discrimination based on disability, pregnancy and genetic information. Additionally, the State of Florida has prohibited discrimination based on marital status," wrote Hoch. "The time has come for the City of Boca Raton to actually enact the type of equal employment/equal opportunity ordinance that you were told already was in existence."
While Boca Raton does not appear to have an ordinance addressing equal opportunity in municipal employment, the City's Job Application Process web page includes a statement which reads: The City of Boca Raton does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, disability or veteran status.
A slightly different statement, which appears on the the City's Human Resources main web page, includes "genetic information" along with the aforementioned protected classes.
The Human Rights Council has asked Haynie to have Boca Raton update all of the city's nondiscrimination policies to "include race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy discrimination and sexual harassment), national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information or gender identity or expression."
"Boca Raton currently includes 'veteran status' in its nondiscrimination statements, even though that is not required by federal or state law," said Hoch. "Therefore, there is precedent for Boca to include both 'sexual orientation', and "gender identity or expression", neither of which are required to be included by federal or state law."
The Palm Beach County Human Rights Council also asked Haynie to have Boca Raton restore the civil rights taken away by the enactment of Boca Raton Ordinance No. 5161 and advised the Deputy Mayor that "as long as Ordinance No. 5161 remains in effect, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council will continue to expand our 'Boca Bigots Run City Hall' campaign."
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