Timkin

May 23, 2012, 03:20:19 PM
Cool!!!

tufsu1

May 23, 2012, 04:08:20 PM
so, homosexuals were out in force?  guess all those people speaking in favor of the bill were gay.

stephendare

May 23, 2012, 04:20:19 PM
huh? How did you get the idea that the meeting was gay only?

Jimmy

May 23, 2012, 04:26:14 PM
"The homosexuals seemed to be out in full force tonight, and the mood in the room is somewhat positive."

It's what the narrator says. 

Stephen's point is exactly right, btw.  While there were a lot of LGBT persons, many speaking in support of the bill were our allies.

stephendare

May 23, 2012, 04:30:11 PM
great job last night Jimmy!  We got a pretty good shot of you in the video segment looking all attentive.

fsquid

May 23, 2012, 04:32:01 PM
must have been cold in there for him to need the wool cap.

Jimmy

May 23, 2012, 04:33:12 PM

great job last night Jimmy!  We got a pretty good shot of you in the video segment looking all attentive.

Thank you!! I was trying to keep up with a lot of stuff, including the posts to the MJ liveblog, and still try to look like I was listening to the speakers.  It was a fun balancing act!

Lunican

May 23, 2012, 04:42:30 PM
Nice video!

joshuataylor

May 23, 2012, 04:51:27 PM

must have been cold in there for him to need the wool cap.

it's the summer version of flip flops with a hoodie.

when in rome...

KenFSU

May 23, 2012, 05:04:43 PM
Could have done without the "it seems we've reached the end of the gayest little city council meeting in Jacksonville" concluding line. 296 is really important, and to end on a borderline offensive punchline, I don't know MJ. It comes across as slightly belittling. That and "the homosexuals are out in full force" lines kind of give the piece an odd feel, like us straight folk are observing bizarre, otherworldly animals from a distance at the zoo. Minor criticism, I know, but I really wanted to like this, and it just sat kind of funny with me.

That aside, MJ's continuing coverage of this issue has been pretty damn spectacular otherwise.

Keep it up!

stephendare

May 23, 2012, 05:09:36 PM

Could have done without the "it seems we've reached the end of the gayest little city council meeting in Jacksonville" concluding line. 269 is really important, and to end on a borderline offensive punchline, I don't know MJ. The issue deserves better. That and "the homosexuals are out in full force" lines kind of give the piece an odd feel, like us straight folk are observing bizarre, otherworldly animals from a distance at the zoo. Minor criticism, I know, but I really wanted to like this, and it just sat kind of funny with me.

That aside, MJ's continuing coverage of this issue has been pretty damn spectacular otherwise.

Keep it up!

Thanks for the input!  We are determined to keep it light even while we treat it seriously.  I like Josh's tongue in cheek keeping it real delivery actually.

FlowerPower

May 23, 2012, 05:17:18 PM
FYI:  The Bill number is 2012-296...not 269..If it is possible could someone change the subject line?  I am sure someone thought putting 69 in a gay issue was funny, but it's not.   

ubben

May 23, 2012, 05:19:34 PM
Did anyone else notice Clay Yarborough quickly shuffling through the cards before people started speaking? Odd how we started out with two hate-spewing bigots in a packed room that was 99% in support of the bill. But his little trick couldn't dampen the mood, that's for sure. Congrats to the overwhelming success of the introduction of this important bill for Jacksonville. And thank you Kimberly Daniels for showing everyone in the city how truly ignorant the opposition is, and exactly why this bill is needed.

Ocklawaha

May 23, 2012, 05:30:05 PM
Who were the 'hate spewing bigots?' What exactly did they say? Do we have a line by line?

KenFSU

May 23, 2012, 05:32:49 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 23, 2012, 05:04:43 PM

Could have done without the "it seems we've reached the end of the gayest little city council meeting in Jacksonville" concluding line. 269 is really important, and to end on a borderline offensive punchline, I don't know MJ. The issue deserves better. That and "the homosexuals are out in full force" lines kind of give the piece an odd feel, like us straight folk are observing bizarre, otherworldly animals from a distance at the zoo. Minor criticism, I know, but I really wanted to like this, and it just sat kind of funny with me.

That aside, MJ's continuing coverage of this issue has been pretty damn spectacular otherwise.

Keep it up!

Thanks for the input!  We are determined to keep it light even while we treat it seriously.  I like Josh's tongue in cheek keeping it real delivery actually.

No prob Stephen!

Nothing in the least bit personal against Josh.

I tend to fall a little on the sensitive side too, so maybe it's just me

joshuataylor

May 23, 2012, 05:35:54 PM

Could have done without the "it seems we've reached the end of the gayest little city council meeting in Jacksonville" concluding line. 269 is really important, and to end on a borderline offensive punchline, I don't know MJ. The issue deserves better. That and "the homosexuals are out in full force" lines kind of give the piece an odd feel, like us straight folk are observing bizarre, otherworldly animals from a distance at the zoo. Minor criticism, I know, but I really wanted to like this, and it just sat kind of funny with me.

That aside, MJ's continuing coverage of this issue has been pretty damn spectacular otherwise.

Keep it up!

In my defense, I felt the report added a bit of levity to an obviously heavy-handed and, at times, offensive public hearing. The ludicrous statements issued throughout the night by Councilwoman Daniels, an elected official, were uninformed and bizarre. I saw no way to seriously address these statements without pandering to Ms. Daniels ultimately flawed logic. While we all agree that the hearing is a momentous occasion for the residents of Jacksonville, and long overdue in it's occurrence, I feel this video was intended as more of a companion piece to the much more serious debate available elsewhere on metrojacksonville.com. I apologize for any offense this lighthearted approach may have caused.

KenFSU

May 23, 2012, 05:44:53 PM

Quote from: KenFSU on May 23, 2012, 05:04:43 PM

Could have done without the "it seems we've reached the end of the gayest little city council meeting in Jacksonville" concluding line. 269 is really important, and to end on a borderline offensive punchline, I don't know MJ. The issue deserves better. That and "the homosexuals are out in full force" lines kind of give the piece an odd feel, like us straight folk are observing bizarre, otherworldly animals from a distance at the zoo. Minor criticism, I know, but I really wanted to like this, and it just sat kind of funny with me.

That aside, MJ's continuing coverage of this issue has been pretty damn spectacular otherwise.

Keep it up!

In my defense, I felt the report added a bit of levity to an obviously heavy-handed and, at times, offensive public hearing. The ludicrous statements issued throughout the night by Councilwoman Daniels, an elected official, were uninformed and bizarre. I saw no way to seriously address these statements without pandering to Ms. Daniels ultimately flawed logic. While we all agree that the hearing is a momentous occasion for the residents of Jacksonville, and long overdue in it's occurrence, I feel this video was intended as more of a companion piece to the much more serious debate available elsewhere on metrojacksonville.com. I apologize for any offense this lighthearted approach may have caused.

No worries Josh, I appreciate your expanding on my concern, and like I said, I was probably just a little hypersensitive.

You guys have all done incredible work covering 296 and should be damn proud of yourselves.

sheclown

May 23, 2012, 05:47:46 PM
Good job keeping all of us informed MJ!!

BTW, there is a hint of pain in the light tone.  Some comments from the council (dead people & animals) were so stupid & cruel it was embarrassing.  Set a tone of ridiculous expectations from the beginning.

 Keeping it light is a self-protective response, IMHO.

FlowerPower

May 23, 2012, 07:16:10 PM

Did anyone else notice Clay Yarborough quickly shuffling through the cards before people started speaking? Odd how we started out with two hate-spewing bigots in a packed room that was 99% in support of the bill. But his little trick couldn't dampen the mood, that's for sure. Congrats to the overwhelming success of the introduction of this important bill for Jacksonville. And thank you Kimberly Daniels for showing everyone in the city how truly ignorant the opposition is, and exactly why this bill is needed.

I did find it interesting that Mac Brunson and one of the supportive speakers for 2012-296 that did not get called to speak until after midnight reportedly turned their blue cards in at the same time.  This is what the supporter lamented to me while waiting to be called.   It was my understanding that the clerk was supposed to time stamp the blue cards as they came in an put them in order based on the time stamp.  I had my neighbor pass in my card with his and we were consecutive speakers. 

Also, there were dozens of people who turned in cards that did not get to speak in the first public hearing period on 2012-296 that they ended around 1115pm so the council could finish all the other business on the agenda.  The vast majority of those persons were also 2012-296 supporters.

It does seem that someone may have intentionally moved a couple opposition speakers to the front of the pack of blue cards so that the hearing would not start with 40 consecutive supportive speakers. It also seems possible that if some cards were shifted to the front of the pack, others may have been pushed back in the order to the point where they were called so late they had already departed the meeting.  Any of this is difficult to prove unless some intrepid reported wanted to look into it.    If the cards are time stamped, and it is the policy of the council that they be called in order of that stamp, then the truth is out there waiting to be found. 

Tamara-B

May 23, 2012, 11:26:39 PM
To sum it up:

Tuesday night was packed full at City Hall in regards to an ordinance to add sexual orientation to Jacksonville's anti discrimination law. For six hours the council heard from various speakers. One by one, speakers were allowed three minutes to express their views on 2012-296. Among those who spoke were lesbians, gay men, transgenders, heterosexuals, senior citizens, and religious leaders.

Journalists, news reporters, students, interns, and long-time Jacksonville residents were in attendance.

Many of the gay speakers tearfully told stories of the oppression they have endured due to their sexual orientation from losing their jobs, vandalized property, name-calling, and harassment by police. They pleaded with the council to pass this bill.

Religious leaders quoted bible verses and expressed their beliefs that marriage is to only be between a man and a woman. Also, they stated that passing this bill would force certain religious communities to accept something they don't believe in and risk getting sued.

Councilwoman Kimberly Daniels, nicknamed "Pastor Kim", asked a speaker what sexual orientation is and whether it is oriented to animals.

 However, other religious leaders, as well as former mayor John Delaney, were in favor of the bill reminding the council of civil rights and the constitution.

Towards the end of the meeting, the majority of the audience stood up in favor of the bill.

Reportedly, a vote is scheduled for June 12.

Timkin

May 24, 2012, 01:16:28 AM
"Pastor Kim" 


Interesting.

sheclown

May 24, 2012, 08:45:39 AM
And Audrey Moran spoke beautifully in favor of the bill.

The Compound

May 24, 2012, 09:10:39 AM
Did someone finally explain to "Pastor Kim" the difference between homosexuality, bestiality, and necrophilia?

Timkin

June 03, 2012, 04:24:56 AM

Did someone finally explain to "Pastor Kim" the difference between homosexuality, bestiality, and necrophilia?

Doubt she would want to understand the difference.  You can lead a horse to water.. you cannot make it drink.

I also think Joshua is a good speaker and did not take offense at all to the way he handled speaking on the matter. 

It is long past time that the issue of being gay , bi, lesbian, transgender, whatever , is no longer an issue, not just in Jacksonville , but anywhere else. It is frankly just as ridiculous as one being discriminated against for being black, Christian, Jewish, whatever.    We as a society should have moved past this long ago.

It is ignorance, as demonstrated by folks like Ms. Daniels ( I still cannot believe this is an elected official) that holds us back, at least in part.

Garden guy

June 03, 2012, 07:14:56 AM
296 is years over due and most of us think this but we must not forget where we are. The anti gay councilemen and preacher daniels were voted in which means we still have plenty of people including many religious groups that voted them in and support them...There's no way of getting daniels off the council...the nation is looking and we still look like hicks with people from FBC and preacher daniels in leadership...im so proud of this and it seems like a no brainer but this city has been being ran by the southern baptist for way too long...they sound like idiots...good luck to us all...we need it.

tufsu1

June 03, 2012, 08:16:43 AM
^ good job not making this about Rebublicans gg...after all, Daniels is a Democrat

Jimmy

June 03, 2012, 09:10:27 AM
Yeah, this is actually as bipartisan as it gets in Jacksonville.  Our bill sponsor is a Democrat, but there are Republicans on the Council who are firm "yes" votes, as well.  The leadership team working to support this in the community has a Republican lean to it.

And, as pointed out, those in opposition are also from both parties, the Democrat Daniels and Republican Redman being the two most vocal.

Timkin

June 03, 2012, 04:12:22 PM

Yeah, this is actually as bipartisan as it gets in Jacksonville.  Our bill sponsor is a Democrat, but there are Republicans on the Council who are firm "yes" votes, as well.  The leadership team working to support this in the community has a Republican lean to it.

And, as pointed out, those in opposition are also from both parties, the Democrat Daniels and Republican Redman being the two most vocal.

I mean no disrespect but I fail to understand how Ms Daniels can handle her position as a council person.  Seriously. The MJ Clip with her in in babbling about animals and stuff (HAVING NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE MATTER AT HAND) displays clearly , how ignorant she really is. 

I heard a saying once and I firmly believe it.  Going to church does not make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes one an Automobile.   IF Ms Daniels is actually a Pastor, perhaps she could serve the public better in that regard. I fail to see what she brings to the City Council that is useful.   Major waste of taxpayer dollars, not to mention, she has zero people skills.

Hopefully the Council panel will move past this issue and allow equality as most other major cities and countries in the world, do.

I don't recall anywhere in the bible where God gave "christians" the right to judge or persecute another person.