Gay Rights Group Pushes Rick Scott for Executive Order

Gov. Charlie Crist did not support the measure; Palm Beach County Human Rights Council President Rand Hoch is hopeful that incoming Gov. Rick Scott will sign an executive order for equal opportunity in state employment.

"Unlike Charlie Crist, who spent much of his adult life in the political arena, Rick Scott has spent years in the corporate world," said Hoch on Tuesday."As he takes over as Florida's chief executive officer, Rick Scott can take this opportunity to assure all state employees that under his leadership they will be evaluated based on the basis of merit and fitness, as opposed to any nonjob-related factors."

The measure the council drafted up calls for state agencies to "recruit, appoint, train, evaluate and promote state personnel on the basis of merit and fitness, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, pregnancy or marital status or other nonjob-related factors." At least 30 other states have implemented a similar measure.