Poll: Most Miami-Dade voters favor antidiscrimination law

Miami-Dade County, Fla., voters are likely to reject a measure on next week's ballot that would repeal the county's ordinance banning discrimination against gays, a new survey shows. The poll of 600 likely voters, conducted for The Miami Herald and WTVJ-TV, found that 54% said they will vote against the repeal, while 34% said they will vote for it. Twelve percent were undecided as Tuesday's primary approaches.

The measure would repeal a 1998 amendment to the county's civil rights ordinance that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, lending, and public accommodations. The repeal effort is backed by Take Back Miami-Dade, a coalition of conservative Christian groups.

"If I were a betting man, I would bet it fails," pollster Rob Schroth said.

Heddy Pena, spokeswoman for the anti-repeal group No to Discrimination/SAVE Dade, called the poll results encouraging. "We're pleased the poll shows us ahead, but it's still critical that everyone come out to vote," she said.

The six-day telephone poll was conducted through Monday by Washington, D.C.-based Schroth and Associates and was published in the Herald on Wednesday.