Add “gender identity” to protected class

Add “gender identity” to protected class

Jessica Windisch
St Augustine, FL

Dear Editor,

I would like to bring to your readers’ attention to Monday night’s regular meeting of the City of St Augustine commission, when there will be a second reading and public hearing of Ordinance No. 2012-15; an ordinance of the City of St Augustine, Florida, related to housing discrimination.

The proposed ordinance amends Chapter 16, Article II, section 16-26 through and including section 16-36 of the Code of the City of St Augustine to provide for inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected class; provide for definitions; provide for procedures; providing for inclusion in the Code of the City of St Augustine; providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances; providing for severance of invalid provisions; and providing for an effective date.

The full text of the existing ordinance with the proposed amendments highlighted can be viewed at http://www.staugustinegovernment.com/the-city/featured-stories-archive/documents/Ord2012-15.pdf

I am a member of the Industrial Workers of the World newly formed St Augustine branch. As an organization, we believe that discrimination of any kind is intolerable. We will be presenting a proposed amendment at the City Commission meeting on Monday, December 10th which would add “gender identity” to the list of protected classes.

Here is the resolution we will be presenting:

Whereas the Industrial Workers of the World has opposed discrimination in any form since its inception in 1905, and;

Whereas the St Augustine City Commission is considering the adoption of Ordinance 2012-15 which adds “sexual orientation” as a protected class to Chapter 16, Article II, Section 16 of the City Code related to housing discrimination;

Be it resolved that St Augustine members of the Industrial Workers of the World support the St Augustine City Commission adding “sexual orientation” as a protected class;

Be it further resolved that St Augustine members of the Industrial Workers of the World support the additional inclusion of “gender identity” as a protected class to Ordinance 2012-15;

Be it further resolved that St Augustine members of the Industrial Workers of the World urge the City Commission to direct the City Attorney to draft an ordinance extending these same protections for protected classes to the workplace.