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Antidiscrimination Repeal Fails in Gainesville


Gainesville, Fla.'s Amendment 1 -- which, if passed, would have repealed a number of antidiscrimination protections for LGBT residents in the college town -- failed at the polls Tuesday. With the majority of precincts reporting , results have the amendment failing with 61% voting no and 39% voting yes.

The repeal movement began last year after the city commission revised the antidiscrimination law to include protections for transgender people in employment, housing, and public accommodations -- including restrooms.

Opponents using scare tactics about mixed-sex public bathrooms gathered enough signatures to place a referendum of the protections on the ballot. Charter Amendment 1 would have eliminated not only transgender protections but also protections for gays and lesbians in the North Florida city. It also would have forbade the city to add protected categories that are not included in the Florida Civil Rights Act, which does not recognize sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: BEth
    Date posted: 3/25/2009 8:17:00 AM
    Hometown: Greenbelt

    Comment:

    Congratulations! I'm glad most of the people of Gainesville believe in equality--and give thanks for the people who went door-to-door to talk about equality. My best friend lives in Gainesville so I'm grateful my friend can live where there's such equality.

  • Name: Harry Gams
    Date posted: 3/25/2009 7:26:00 AM
    Hometown: Gainesville FL

    Comment:

    I'm so happy we said NO! to amendment 1, (& yes to amendment 2)

  • Name: Wayne
    Date posted: 3/25/2009 6:57:00 AM
    Hometown: NYC

    Comment:

    THAT'S WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!!! GO GAINESVILLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE STAND ON THE SIDE OF EQUALITY. WE WILL PREVAIL!!

  • Name: lymerae
    Date posted: 3/25/2009 1:30:00 AM
    Hometown: Gainesville

    Comment:

    @ David, people were able to see through the garbage because for every "yes on 1" sign-waving bigot, we had actual volunteers on the ground knocking on doors and talking to people face-to-face. Much more effective. If people were willing to talk to us, of course, 9 times out of 10 they came to our side. And yes, this is an amazing moment.

  • Name: Donna Lee
    Date posted: 3/25/2009 12:05:00 AM
    Hometown: Gainesville

    Comment:

    I am so thankful to have been a member of Equality is gainesvilles Business. We had a long fight since last July, but tonight we did it. We won!!!! The forces of bigotry and fear met their match in Gainesville and tasted defeat. the firewall held. Now lets keep turning the tables on the religous wrong and keep winning!!!! Go Gainesville!!!!! I am so proud and happy for my adapted hometown.

  • Name: Scott
    Date posted: 3/24/2009 11:51:00 PM
    Hometown: Tallahassee

    Comment:

    This is a great day indeed but hardly surprising. Alachua County was one of two counties in the state that voted No on No. 2.

  • Name: Alan
    Date posted: 3/24/2009 11:43:00 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    Hooray for Gainesville! Yes, there is hope! Americans of good conscience are capable of seeing that equality really does mean equality for ALL! From California, we salute you... and continue our fight to one day return equality to our state...

  • Name: Dave
    Date posted: 3/24/2009 11:40:00 PM
    Hometown: Tampa

    Comment:

    Mazel tov to Gainesville's residents and thank you for turning your back on the hateful right wing!

  • Name: Michael
    Date posted: 3/24/2009 11:24:00 PM
    Hometown: Clayton, CA

    Comment:

    I'm so glad the residents of Gainesville have found homophobia morally repugnant and voted for equality for all Americans! Congratulations Gainesville!!! How much did radical, anti-gay activists spend trying to legitimize homophobia while people are homeless in the streets of America?

  • Name: David
    Date posted: 3/24/2009 10:52:00 PM
    Hometown: Orlando, FL

    Comment:

    I was in Gainesville last weekend. It disgusted me, people on every street corners whose signs read "Protect Children: Yes on 1" I can't believe people were smart enough to see through that garbage, maybe there is hope.



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