PRESS RELEASE: Equality Florida to Honor Sponsors of Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance
Human Rights Ordinance
Jacksonville CIty Council Vice President Aaron Bowman, City Council Member Jim Love and City Council Member Tommy Hazouri will receive the Voice for Equality Award at Equality Florida's annual Greater Jacksonville Gala
On February, 14th, 2017, the Jacksonville City Council voted to update its human rights ordinances to provide nondiscrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. In a 12 – 6 vote, the council established nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment and public accommodations, such as restaurants, stores, and entertainment venues.
This victory came after years of hard work and courageous advocacy from the local LGBTQ residents, businesses owners, faith voices and community leaders, but it could not have been done without the leadership shown by City Council Vice President Aaron Bowman, City Council Member Jim Love and City Council Member Tommy Hazouri. This gang of three showed real leadership and courage in the face of fierce opposition. Ultimately, their collaborative & bipartisan approach & their commitment to ensuring basic dignity and protections for Jacksonville’s LGBTQ community won the day and made history.
Equality Florida worked with the local community to build support for passage of the Human Rights Ordinance for over five years and was a founding member of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality.
The 2018 Equality Florida Greater Jacksonville Gala will take place on February 3rd from 7:00 - 10 p.m. at The Florida Yacht Club located at 5210 Yacht Club Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32210. For more information about the event, please visit equalityflorida.org/