St Augustine gays and lesbians may gain housing protection

A first reading of a proposed ordinance before the City Commission tomorrow evening; providing for inclusion of “sexual orientation” as a protected class, with regard to housing discrimination within the city limits of St Augustine.

If the commission passes the ordinance along Wednesday evening, it is scheduled to return for a second reading and public hearing on December 10, 2012, before it can be enacted.

If adopted in its current form, the City policy on housing discrimination will be restated, as follows:

“It is hereby declared to be the policy of the city in the exercise of its police power for the public safety, public health and general welfare, to assure equal opportunity to obtain adequate housing by all persons, regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, sex, place of birth, handicap, familial status, or national origin or sexual orientation, and, to that end, to eliminate discrimination in housing.”

If you are planning to attend — the regular St Augustine City Commission meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. Wednesday and will be held in the Alcazar Room; on the first floor of the west wing of City Hall, located at 75 King Street in St. Augustine. It will be broadcast live on Comcast Government TV (Cable Channel 3) and is streamed over the Internet.