Domestic partner benefits on the horizon

By DMITRY RASHNITSOV

Linda Stewart, (photo) Orange County Board of Commissioners District 4, is the champion
for LGBT rights in Central Florida.

Central Florida took a big step forward Nov. 23 in its move to protect the rights of its LGBT citizens. By a 6-1 vote, Orange County, home to Orlando, Disney World and Universal Studios, banned sexual orientation and gender identity-based discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Those that voted in favor of the bill include:

• Mayor Richard T. Crotty;
• District 1 Commissioner S. Scott Boyd;
• District 3 Commissioner Lui Damiani;
• District 4 Commissioner Linda Stewart;
• District 5 Commissioner Bill Segal; and
• District 6 Commissioner Tiffany Moore.

“I think they are going to find that it’s very reasonable and it’s worth it,” said Stewart, the commission’s leading advocate of gay rights.

The lone “no” vote was from District 2 Commissioner Fred Brummer. His objection was based on federal housing rules and the potential of fraudulent lawsuits.

“There were so many people that did so much behind the scenes work to make this happen,” said supporter and Orlando resident Randy Ross. “In the past two months this effort went from zero to 60 with great speed. The message was clear: Orange County believes in Equality – bottom line.”

Orange County is the largest local government in Central Florida. The passage of the ordinance is the culmination of years of organizing, lobbying and education by Equality Florida and the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee.

“It’s a completely different world than it was 10 years ago,” said Patrick Howell, a lawyer and activist who lobbied for the new protections in both Orlando and the county. “A lot of this is about sending the message that Orange County is an inclusive. Everyone’s welcome.”

The new law exempts religious organizations and small businesses. The ordinance is modeled off an ordinance already in place in Leon County. With the vote, Orange County joins other municipalties that already have similar LGBT protections in place. They include Broward, Miami-Dade, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties.

Supporters wore red shirts and filled the commission chambers for the vote.

No residents spoke against the measure, a far cry from the scene in 2002 when the City of Orlando passed similar protections. That close vote was plagued with opposition from several religious groups and sparked heated debate. The Nov. 23 vote, however, will not be the only issue affecting Orange County’s LGBT and straight community. Mayor-elect Teresa Jacobs, who will take office Jan. 4, has promised to support some type of measure favoring domestic partner benefits.

“It’s the next step in the work that we need to do on the county level,” said Joe Saunders, Equality Florida’s statewide field director. “Right now, same sex couples that work for the county can’t share their benefits, and that’s just wrong.”