TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners on Wednesday voted unanimously in favor of expanding the county’s human rights ordinance to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.
The 7-0 vote reversed a former board’s action in 1995 to strip gays and lesbians from the groups protected under the ordinance, reports the Tampa Tribune.
“It was an opportunity to right a wrong,” said Terry Wolfe, who spoke in favor of the revamped law. “It’s been a long time coming, trying to fix that mistake, but it needed to be done. It goes a long way toward creating a climate of equality.”
The Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodations, real estate transactions, and county contracting and procurement.
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The other protected classes are race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, disability and marital status.
On October 15, the commissioners will hold a public hearing and vote on whether to create a domestic partner registry.
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