PBCHRC Again Asks Gov. Crist to Issue An Executive Order on Non-discrimination in State Employment

August 12, 2009

Governor Charlie Crist
The Capital
400 Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Re: Executive Order on Equal Opportunity in State Employment

Dear Governor Crist:

Yesterday morning, Delaware Governor Jack Marshall issued Executive Order Number Eight which bans discrimination in state employment based on gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, height, weight, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or military or veteran status. (A copy of the Executive Order is enclosed. See also, www. governor.delaware.gov/orders/exec_order_8.shtml).

At the 2008 Republican Governor’s’ Association conference, you told your colleagues that “there are a lot of issues people care about deeply that affect their lives in a real way every single day,” reminding them that “the people of our states have entrusted us to do what is right – not just for the benefit of Republicans but for all the people we serve.” You further advised your colleagues that “embracing cultures and lifestyles will make us a better party and better leaders.”

Equality in employment affects gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (“GLBT”) Floridians every day.

Since your=2 0election as Governor, the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council (“the Council”) has sent you more than a dozen letters on issues of equality for the GLBT community. The Council has provided copies of executive orders, executive directives, administrative orders, and policy statements that have been issued by 30 governors– including your friend, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger – which make it clear that discrimination based on “sexual orientation” and/or “gender identity or expression” in state government is specifically prohibited.

(The 30 governors have represented Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.)

As Governor, you are empowered to take a simple step to set an example by issuing an executive order to assure all Floridians that our state is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in state employment to all qualified individuals regardless of personal characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, familial status, or marital status. (In light of the decision in Carsillo v. City of Lake Worth, 33 Fla. L. Weekly D2154 (Fla. 4th DCA Sept. 10, 2008), we have added “pregnancy” to the lis t of protected classes.)

Once again, the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council is requesting that you issue an such an Executive Order.

As always, should you or your staff have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

Respectfully yours,


Judge Rand Hoch (retired)
President and Founder

RH:r
enclosure
copies w/out enclosure to: Board of Directors, PBCHRC
Senator Ted Deutch