This is a copy of an article that appeared on GayWired.com. You can see the original story by going to http://www.gaywired.com/article.cfm?Section=9&ID=6859 ===========================================================


Tampa City Commissioners to Consider Sexual Orientation Ordinance by Ross von Metzke (Tampa, FL) – Members of the Hillsborough County Human Relations Board voted Tuesday to ask county commissioners to reconsider adding sexual orientation to
the county's Human Rights Ordinance.

Al Giraud, a gay member of the board, raised the issue after commissioners adopted a policy back in June to “abstain from acknowledging, promoting and
participating” in gay pride events.

Giraud argued that reinstating sexual orientation protection gives commissioners “an opportunity to say we are not for discrimination,” adding
that he still disagrees with the gay pride policy.

The Human Relations Board made a similar request in 2000, five years after commissioners removed the sexual orientation provision from the human rights ordinance amid a divisive countywide debate. Commissioners Ronda Storms, Jim Norman, Tom Scott and Chris Hart voted in June 2000 against reintroducing
sexual orientation to the ordinance.

Hart is no longer on the board. Storms, who worked to repeal sexual orientation from the ordinance before she was elected, introduced this year's ban on gay
pride recognition. Norman and Scott joined her in the approval.

The county ordinance prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status or disability in connection with
employment and housing.

Currently, the majority of Fortune 500 companies, many of which are based in
Florida, prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Giraud filed a discrimination complaint with the city's Office of Human Rights, which does recognize sexual orientation, after two Gay Pride displays were
removed from a downtown library because of the county policy.
© 2005 GayWired.com, All Rights Reserved