Tampa City Council passes anti-discrimination rules for transgender people
By Janet Zink – tampabay.com
TAMPA — Men who live as women, women living as men, clergy members, mothers and grandparents packed the Tampa City Council chambers Thursday to debate a new ordinance that would protect transgender people from discrimination.
Some argued that it was good for business and simply right to approve the law. Others spoke of religion and contended that the rule would give a stamp of approval to sexual deviants.
Donna Kuntz read Bible passages about God abandoning people who do “shameful things,” and said sexual predators are probably celebrating.
“They can have access to whichever gender of children they choose,” she said. “You’re giving credibility and recognition to a behavior that is sinful.”
After two hours of testimony, the ordinance passed by a 5-1 vote with Charlie Miranda voting no and Linda Saul-Sena absent.
During discussions of the issue, Miranda repeatedly raised concerns about disruptions caused by people who come to work one day dressed as one gender, and the next day dressed as the other.
The new rule prohibits discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations based on “gender identity and expression,” with that defined as someone who has an “inner sense of being a specific gender” regardless of their “assigned sex at birth.”
Tampa’s human rights ordinance already protects people from discrimination based on gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and other factors.
Council chairman Tom Scott, pastor at the 34th Street Church of God, delivered a riveting speech before the vote, saying he didn’t take the decision lightly.
“I did not sleep well last night. I spent most of my time as a Christian praying and seeking wisdom and direction on this particular ordinance,” he said.
Scott said he wasn’t intimidated by people who threatened not to vote for him if he supported the ordinance.
“The only vote I care about is God’s vote,” he said, noting that as a county commissioner he cast votes against gay issues.
But the United States, he said, is founded on the principles of freedom and choice.
And as a preacher, he asked himself “What would Jesus do?”
“I believe that Jesus loves every person in this room,” he said. “This ordinance is about those who have made a decision to change their gender and they should not be discriminated against.”
Council members Mary Mulhern and John Dingfelder referred to the Constitution.
“We’re not in church. This is your Tampa City Council and we’re legislators,” Mulhern said. “When I look at my responsibility here, it does have to do with, as one of the speakers said, liberty and justice for all.”
Dingfelder commended the transgender people who had the courage to address the council in the glare of the media.
The council decided to broaden its human rights ordinance to include gender identity at the request of the city’s Human Rights Board.
“The bottom line is discrimination is wrong and history has proven that expanding the civil rights of our citizens is the right thing to do,” said Philip Dinkins, the board’s chairman.
He noted that Tampa is not blazing any new trails on the issue because cities, states and companies throughout the country include gender identity in their anti-discrimination rules.
The Council preliminarily approved the ordinance by a 7-0 vote on Nov. 5. There was little discussion that day, with just a handful of people speaking about the issue. All of them favored the change.
But the scene was vastly different for the final hearing on Thursday.
At least 50 people lined up to speak and they were split almost equally on the issue.
David Caton, executive director of the Florida Family Association, said adding a class to the human rights ordinance should be based on evidence showing a pattern of discrimination that causes economic hardship.
“This is all about politics,” Caton said. “It has nothing to do with real discrimination complaints.”
Others, though, talked about the importance of all people being able to work and live without worry of discrimination, and said transgender people are not perverts or child molesters.
Rocco Vallerand, who also goes by the name Raquel, said he works in the Pasco County school system and has no desire to harm any children. He simply wants to be able to maintain a job to support his two daughters.
“I am saddened that people are using religion as a guise for hate,” he said.
Tobias Packer, a member of Equality Florida, told the council he is a transgender person and has been denied jobs even though he has an Ivy League education.
Packer referenced the thousands of e-mails and letters the council has received from the religious community against the ordinance.
“They hope to inspire fear and confusion, but I really ask that you simply look at the facts and the legal realities of this measure,” he said.
Stephanie Nichols, who was born a male but now lives as a female, said she may not be the cookie-cutter image of a man or woman.
“But nobody’s perfect,” she said. She said she knows of at least 15 people who have lost their jobs as they made the transition from one gender to the other.
“Passing this amendment is fair and it’s the right thing to do,” she said.
The ordinance applies to organizations throughout the city, but the provisions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity do not apply to religious organizations. The ordinance also specifies that it’s legal to segregate bathrooms based on sex, which is defined as a person’s reproductive organs.
ESTA BIEN QUE HAYAN RECTIFICADO Y ACEPTADO AL NIÑO EN GIRL SCOUTS, ES PLAUSIBLE ESA DECICION 
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Comment by donna on 24 November 2009:
God loves us with an everlasting love. He came to die for us on the cross to be punished for our sins. All have sinned. Unless you put your trust in Him you will not spend eternity with Him. He arose again and is desirous that all come to Him to recieve forgivness of our sins and everlasting life. God is perfect and heaven is perfect. He alone only can forgive our sin and take us to heaven when life is over.
Put your trust in Him and see what a real plan for your life can be. If you feel the tug then take His hand.
Comment by so cry about it? on 2 December 2009:
God did not die on a cross. a mortal man born of mortal parrents died on a cross because the government at the time thought it was a good idea. God or no God, get your facts strait. jesus and god are not and never were one and the same. read whatever version of the bible you want written or edited to fit whatever needs arose at the time and still you will find that jesus, weather or not he was the son of god, was a mortal being born on earth and killed on earth.
Comment by Gypsy on 4 December 2009:
“Whatever version of ..edited to fit whatever,” The first chapter of John describes for us the definition of One God expressed to man in three ways. You are correct Donna Christ was totally God and yes Cry About It, Jesus was totally man. The tie between both is God in love subjected Himself to man in form, function so that we may know Him. He was the only human that ever was able to keep the very law he gave us and He did it by the same choice he gives us only we choose not to trust his law. The reason so many dont want to approach a god is guilt, condemnation or simple self worship. Christ is Gods perfect way of showing us; one, the worst we can do, ridicule, torture, forsake, and kill, He is still willing to forgive. Two the reall mind blower, He is able to overcome it all demonstrated by His resurection. Thats for anyone who wants to trust what He said is true. He loves us, forgives us and can give us a new life with Him. I have heard so many friends turn there ears off to a god because so many preach a god of condemnation. Christ demonstrated forgiveness that is available to who ever believes. May I urge anyone that has turned away from god based on what others say to, read for yourself the bible and allow yourself to believe, you are as valuable to God as anyone and He is powerful enough to make Himself known to you if you but read it yourself. God is a personal relationship expert and other people are just..people like you and me so why take someone els’s word for it, take Gods words and put them to the test. But to do that would mean we are left with the choice to read it ourselves.
As far as the counsel meeting as in, “what is the Christian thing to do?” Didnt Christ commit his ministry to the downtrodden and outcast of society. Didn’t he reconcile the eunuch’s to the family of God? Didn’t He say, there is neither, Jew or Gentile, Male nor Female. God is not hung up on nationality, gender or even sex. Only we are. If we could just stop judging each other and replace all that energy spent into learning to love each other the problems would be over.
Think about it, if you believe in an all powerful God he could MAKE everyone want to be of a certain sexual preference, instead He gave us the choice, shouldnt we follow God and allow our fellow human the same right God gave them, choose for themself? If we or they are wrong God is powerful enough and loving enough to lead us each in the way we should go. Worry about the beam in your own eye for a little while, let me see the love, joy, faith, gentleness, goodness, patience, and temperance your God leads you to demonstrate to others and then maybe I can believe in the God you believe in.
Comment by Foxxe on 4 December 2009:
Meh, one should scrap MOST of the ‘bible’ and read only the teachings of the christ, contained in the 4 available gospels, (assuming of course you decide to follow this belief).
Bear in mind most of the rest is human conjecture and foolish prejudisms.
Comment by Gypsy on 11 December 2009:
I in part agree with you Foxxe. There is much of the Old Testement that seems unnecessary to the truth in Christ Himself and our relationship with Him. The place I differ and accept the, “MOST of the bible (Parts other than the four gospels) is the relationship it brings. The gospels, I think, you and I agree are the parts of the bible where Christ held a physical presence. This is a perfect example of how much we need Christ, in order to “decide to follow this belief.” I strongly agree with you in that any person wishing to take a look at Christianity would best be served by reading the four gospels. The rest of the bible all points to and is for giving evidence of this one same God and mans need for Him. I laugh at myself when i study Moses, Abraham, Jacob….Daniel ect. I always thought of them as something special and realize they were just as human as me. YET, God did was always working with them to bring the human race to the place of, the gospels of Christ. Much of the New Testament serves the same function in my relationship with Christ. I see how Timothy and Paul argued back and forth. How others left Paul to be ridiculed in Rome. The list goes on and on in exemplifying God does not expect, exact or judge us to be perfect He only wants us to learn we can trust His love for us, no matter what Moses did or I do. His love is that powerful. I guess thats what MOST of the ‘bible’ gives me reason to keep, It shows Gods powerful love in our(all humans) relationship to Him and each other. Thank you for your comment Foxxe. I love your line, “assuming of course you decide to follow this belief.” It’s always a wise thing to remember we have a choice!