City of Jacksonville Passes Human Rights Ordinance

The Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus was celebrating Tuesday night the Jacksonville City Council's passage of a comprehensive Human Rights Ordinance. The HRO bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

A coalition of Jacksonville LGBT residents, business owners and other community and spiritual leaders had spent the past five years pushing for the ordinance's successful passage. While the measure includes exemptions for federally-defined religious organizations, amendments to put the HRO to a referendum vote and remove protections for transgender individuals were both defeated.

Mayor Lenny Curry has stated that he would allow it to become law without his signature.