Homosexual Climate at UF.

rainydysndmondys
Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:04:15 +0000

The amendment:

Amendment 1:

SHALL THE CITY CHARTER BE AMENDED TO PROHIBIT THE ADOPTION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ORDINANCES, REGULATIONS, RULES OR POLICIES THAT PROVIDE PROTECTED STATUS, PREFERENCES OR DISCRIMINATION CLAIMS BASED ON CLASSIFICATIONS, CHARACTERISTICS OR ORIENTATIONS NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE FLORIDA CIVIL RIGHTS ACT? THE ACT RECOGNIZES RACE, COLOR, CREED, RELIGION, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, HANDICAP, MARITAL AND FAMILIAL STATUS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS AMENDMENT VOIDS EXISTING ORDINANCES CONCERNING SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, AND OTHER ORDINANCES INCONSISTENT WITH THIS AMENDMENT.

The “yes” argument: The current Human Rights Ordinance makes it easy for men to enter women’s restrooms with criminal intent.

The “no” argument: The adoption of this amendment will take away human rights and allow for discrimination against homosexuals in regard to employment, housing, etc.

The “yes”: [Citizens For Good Public Policy - Gainesville, FL](http://www.citizensforgoodpublicpolicy.com)
The “no”: [Vote NO on 1 - Equality is Gainesville’s Business](http://www.equalitygainesville.com)

Early voting was all last week and today is officially election day.

Equality is Gainesville’s Business has been VERY active on campus (I’m phone banking for them in a half-hour) and Citizens for Good Public Policy has stayed off campus. There have been TV ads and a newspaper ad from CfGPP, but no canvassing or anything.

Overall, the student body is accepting of LGBT issues, I would say. I do run in a particularly liberal circle, so I may have a skewed opinion, but from what I’ve seen Gainesville is a very progressive community and I’ve never heard of any incidences of hate or homophobia towards any of my gay friends.