VICTORY: Orange County Passes LGBT Protections
By a 6-1 vote, Orange County has banned sexual orientation- and gender identity-based discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.
Kudos to Commissioners Linda Stewart, Bill Segal and Mayor Crotty in particular for their leadership. Commissioner Fred Brummer was the lone "NO" vote.
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. Equality Florida is a proud member of the Orlando Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Committee aka OADO. Kudos to all OADO leaders: Michael Slaymaker, Mary Meeks, Kathryn Norsworthy, Patrick Howell, Tom Woodard, Drew Weinbrenner, Lisa Tilman-Healy along with Equality Florida Boardmember Pat Padilla and staff members Joe Saunders and Mallory Wells.
The community support was tremendous. Supporters wearing red shirts filled the commission chambers.
P.S. Today's victory aptly falls on Commissioner Stewart's birthday so their is a dual celebration going on at Hamburger Mary's right now.
