Jacksonville and the 2012 Municipal Equality Index

[Metro Jacksonville]

Jacksonville and the 2012 Municipal Equality Index



A nationwide evaluation of municipal law and policy was recently released by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Victory, and the Equality Federation Institute.  Cities that received a 100% score were Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Long Beach, Boston, Cambridge (MA), St. Louis, New York City, Portland (OR), Philadelphia, and Seattle.  See where Jacksonville ranks!

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-dec-jacksonville-and-the-2012-municipal-equality-index

[Adam W]

It's odd (to me, the uninitiated outsider) that Atlanta got 82, yet North Druid Hills ended up with 15, given that it's a suburb of Atlanta. That's quite a disparity!

[Noone]

The picture wants me to give McCoys Creek a 100.

Anyone want to kayak under the TU on McCoys Creek and discuss why we should be last when it come to Public Access and economic opportunity on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative in our new DIA/CRA in the USA?

The secret FIND list to be announced with presentations in 7 days at 9:30 am council chambers. Open to the Public.

We are so LOST.

[Adam W]

The picture wants me to give McCoys Creek a 100.

Anyone want to kayak under the TU on McCoys Creek and discuss why we should be last when it come to Public Access and economic opportunity on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative in our new DIA/CRA in the USA?

The secret FIND list to be announced with presentations in 7 days at 9:30 am council chambers. Open to the Public.

We are so LOST.

Speaking of lost, I think you might be on the wrong thread. This thread relates to equality.

[Jason]

Plese educate me.  What exactly is this study showing?

[thelakelander]

HRC’s Municipal Equality Index has rated 137 cities across the nation. The Index includes the 50 state capitals, the 50 most populous cities in the country, and the 25 large, 25 mid-size, and 25 small municipalities with the highest proportion of same-sex couples.  The MEI rates cities based on various criteria spanning six categories, including: Non-discrimination laws, relationship recognition, the city’s employment practices, inclusiveness of city services, law enforcement, and municipal leadership.

http://progressiveoasis.com/2012/11/30/hrcs-new-municipal-equality-index/

[jaxlore]

Wow that's horrible. But if you just look at the Human Rights ordinance that did not pass, this makes total sense. There is still a large segment of the population in this city that harbors discriminatory views and until they wake up from their past, we are going to look like a back woods town in many eyes.

I was very disappointed in our Mayor as well. He left his backbone at the election and has totally fumbled the ball at every turn when it comes to human rights. Any one that voted against the HRO in my eyes needs to go now.

[Tacachale]

As the Human Rights Campaign was one of the big backers of Jax's HRO, it's not surprising they'd give us such a low score. And yes, the failure to pass the HRO was pathetic and the Mayor's cowardice was a major factor in that. The lack of these basic protections was repeatedly cited as disadvantaging Jacksonville by various of our major employers. And now we have to face the indignity of our government shooting it down in while under the national spotlight. Anyone who doesn't see this as a systemic problem for our future economic development either has problems listening to what business leaders are saying directly, or simply doesn't care.

However, as I wrote at another thread, many of the points we did get in this report were due to the brave efforts of some of our City Council representatives, civic leaders, and others in the community to institute humans rights measures and protections. Unfortunately, it's always going to be an uphill battle so long as we keep settling for such weak and backward leadership.

[ChriswUfGator]

It wasn't cowardice, everybody keeps giving him the benefit of the doubt on that. He shares the same views as Yarbrough, Redman, and Daniels, he just didn't want to turn off any voters come election time.

[FlowerPower]

It's isn't just that lack of an inclusive HRO contributing to Jacksonville's low score.  The fact is half or our points are being awarded just because we have a human rights commission--not that it protects the LGBT community.  The next set of points comes because the Duval County School Board does have some LGBT protective policies in place.  But in virtually all other areas, Jacksonville has absolutely nothing that supports the LGBT community-Jacksonville does not an inclusive HRO, it does not protect LGBT City Employees, it does not have a Domestic Partner Registry, nor does it offer domestic partner benefits. it has no liaison to the LGBT community from the mayor's office or the sheriffs office. And as of 10/1/2013 the City of Jacksonville no longer funds any LGBT organizations.

[Charles Hunter]

The picture wants me to give McCoys Creek a 100.

Anyone want to kayak under the TU on McCoys Creek and discuss why we should be last when it come to Public Access and economic opportunity on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative in our new DIA/CRA in the USA?

The secret FIND list to be announced with presentations in 7 days at 9:30 am council chambers. Open to the Public.

We are so LOST.

Speaking of lost, I think you might be on the wrong thread. This thread relates to equality.

Adam, you misunderstand - EVERY thread is about kayaks to Noone.

[Charles Hunter]

It wasn't cowardice, everybody keeps giving him the benefit of the doubt on that. He shares the same views as Yarbrough, Redman, and Daniels, he just didn't want to turn off any voters come election time.

That sounds like the definition of cowardice - having a position on an issue, especially an important issue, but not entering into the public debate because you don't want to alienate some portion of your perceived voting base.  Sounds like a coward to me.  And while it does matter, it doesn't matter if Mr. Brown favors the HRO, and is afraid of pissing off the fundamentalist vote; or, if (as suspected) he opposes the HRO, and is afraid of losing the Chamber and business community that came out strongly in favor of the HRO.