R-1177-10 RESOLUTION NO. 1177-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL URGING THE MEMBERS OF THE
FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION,GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST,THE MEMBERS OF THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE, MAYOR CARLOS ALVAREZ,AND THE MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY COMMISSION,TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF
SEXUAL ORIENTATION,AND GENDER IDENTITY, IN FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS AND COUNTY
ORDINANCES,AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,this great nation was founded on the principle that all people are imbued with
inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and,
WHEREAS, invidious discrimination,whether based on race, color, religion,gender, national
origin,age,disability, marital status,sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, is
morally wrong,violates the human rights of each victim by denying equality of opportunity,
creates economic waste,and weakens the very fabric and well-being of our society; and,
WHEREAS,throughout this nation's history,the people of our nation have called upon
government to protect the principles of equality and justice by expanding and clarifying civil
rights laws which prohibit discrimination in areas including employment, housing, public
accommodations and finance; and,
WHEREAS,every level of government, including municipal,county, state and federal levels of
government, must exercise their power to prevent invidious discrimination; and,
WHEREAS,since 2003, every state that has passed comprehensive civil rights legislation has
included both sexual orientation and gender identity or expression in that legislation; and,
WHEREAS,without adding"sexual orientation"and "gender identity and expression"to the
classifications currently included in Florida's civil rights laws, it will still be legal in Florida to fire
individuals from their jobs,or deny them a place to live solely because they are gay, lesbian,
bisexual,or transgender; and,
WHEREAS, Florida counties such as Broward, Leon, Monroe, Orange, Palm Beach and Pinellas
counties,and the cities of Gulfport,Gainesville, Key West, Lake Worth, Miami Beach, Orlando,
Sarasota, Miami,St. Petersburg,Tampa and West Palm Beach have taken steps to address these
issues by amending their fair employment and housing laws to cover"sexual orientation" and/or
"gender identity or expression'; and,
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County added "sexual orientation"to the provisions of Chapter 11A
concerning discrimination in 1998, but has not yet added "gender identity and expression";and,
WHEREAS,equal opportunity for all citizens is a fundamental American value;and
WHEREAS,eighty-eight percent(88%)of the Fortune 500 companies have affirmative policies
prohibiting workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and more than one-third (1/3)
also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity;and,
WHEREAS,twenty-two(22)states and the District of Columbia have fair employment and
housing laws regarding sexual orientation and, in the most recent fourteen (14) of these states
to enact such laws and in the District of Columbia,gender identity or expression is included;
and,
WHEREAS,forty-four percent(44%) of the United States population now lives in jurisdictions
protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination; and twenty-nine percent(29%)of the United
States population now lives in jurisdictions that also protect individuals based on gender identity
and expression;and,
WHEREAS, according to a June 2008 survey by Harris Interactive and Witeck-Combs, 65%of gay
and lesbian workers in the United States reported facing some form of job discrimination
related to sexual orientation.An earlier survey found that almost one out of every 10 gay or
lesbian adults also reported that they had been fired or dismissed unfairly from a previous job,
or pressured to quit a job,because of their sexual orientation;and,
WHEREAS, protection of the rights or abilities of workers is in the best interests of any working
person and in the interest of any governmental entity; and,
WHEREAS, protection of the rights provided to employees will assist recruitment and retention
of top employees in public service; and,
WHEREAS,during the 2010 legislative session,the Florida House of Representatives and Florida
Senators will be asked to vote on amending the Civil Rights Act of Florida with a bill entitled
"Prohibited Discrimination",which would update both the Florida Civil Rights Act and Florida's
Fair Housing Act to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression;and,
WHEREAS, members of the 111`"Congress will be asked to vote on a bill entitled the
"Employment Non-Discrimination Act"which would provide protection from discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression;and,
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MIAMI SHORES VILLAGE COUNCIL THAT:
Section 1.The Miami Shores Village Council supports changes to the Florida Civil Rights Act to
provide protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Further,the Miami Shores Village Council urges Mayor Carlos Alvarez and the Miami-Dade
County Commission to add "gender identity"to the list of protected classes in ChapterllA of
the County Code.
Section 2.The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this Resolution to Governor Charlie
Crist,Senate President Jeff Atwater,Speaker of the House Larry Cretul,the chair of Miami-
Dade's delegation to the Florida Legislature,the chair of Miami-Dade's Congressional
delegation, Mayor Carlos Alvarez,and members of the Miami-Dade County Commission.
Section 3.This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the Village
Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd day of March, 2010.
AlD is, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Barbara A. Estep, MMC
Village Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
RichardSarafan
Village Attorney