Welcome to the First Coast Tea Party
Ordinance 2012-296 ACTION NEEDED
By now you heard of Ordinance 2012-296. The previous communications have detailed the ordinance and its specific implication. To site the Ordinance Preamble, “Whereas, the City of Jacksonville seeks to build a reputation as a welcoming community for bright and talented members of a workforce…..”; this is a suggested ordinance giving the Human Rights Council the powers to enforce the ordinance against businesses “should it be proven that they discriminate” on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identification. The original ordinance also eliminated references to the United States Constitution and laws of the State and failed to define sexual orientation and gender identification. Is this a new special class of people? It suggests that Jacksonville is an environment that is hostile to the gay/lesbian/transgender people. This suggestion has been disproven by recent two national level survey’s that document that we rank number 3 and 4 for being a friendly city and a great place to live.
This bill is in front of our city council for vote. It has met some resistance from conservatives, Tea Party, religious organizations and other First Amendment Rights organizations. The opposition stands just as firm in their beliefs that this ordinance is needed so that they are treated fairly. While there are some personal level stories as to their treatment none relate to workplace/community or housing discrimination. We know that you cannot legislate the personal behaviors of some individuals who make a choice to be hateful to another.
There is now an attempt to amend the proposed ordinance by reinstating verbiage to the US Constitution and eliminating “gender identification” and perhaps “sexual expression.” This however will not solve the issues that this ordinance in any form will create.
I ask that you email the city council members listed below and feel free to utilize any of the information presented below.
Ask yourself and your council member:
Are you willing to commit to the premise that Jacksonville is hostile to the gay/lesbian community?
Are you willing to believe that only the gay, lesbian world is creative as your message so clearly stated in the council meeting last week?
Are you willing to commit that this is the most important issue to attract business to Jacksonville?
Are you willing to lay the legal and financial burdens of this legislation at the feet of thousands of the small business owners in our city?
Are you willing to impose the so called special needs of these citizens while ignoring and removing the rights of so many others?
Are you willing to take the responsibility for the thousands of other employees who while utilizing their freedom of speech about their beliefs both personal and religious may be sued or their employer sued by someone who finds an innocent comment “offensive to them”?
Are you willing to accept the ultimate personal responsibility that comes with your support of this ordinance when it is now perfectly clear that the origin of this ordinance came FROM AN EXTERNAL SOURCE, with monies behind it being QUESTIONABLE?
Are you willing to tell the pubic the truth that this is being pushed at the NATIONAL LEVEL by those who have a much larger and destructive AGENDA?
Are you willing to be honest and know that this group of OUR CITIZENS are being used to push a much larger attack on EVERYONE’S freedoms? Specifically of SPEECH AND RELIGION?
This bill is not needed. There is no systemic discrimination.
In addition to the above questions the following information is provided for understanding.
The Ordinance:
1) Creates New and Special Rights for Homosexuals: The ordinance creates new and special rights for homosexuals by creating a new protected class and a special legal classification based upon “sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression”.
2) Weakens Florida’s Marriage Amendment as the Union of One Man and One Woman: The ordinance like others around the country have been used to undermine and overturn state marriage laws and state constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Gay rights activists around the country have used the collective scheme of nondiscrimination laws like this one to create a new protected class and legalize homosexual marriages in states like Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire and Washington, DC.
3) Removes All References to the U.S. Constitution: The ordinance (unbelievably) removes all references to the “United States Constitution” in the city code and deletes all language referring to “civil rights found under the US Constitution”. The ordinance language thereby removes the rights, protections and limitations given to citizens by the highest law of the land.
4) Creates Legal Defenses for Pedophiles: The ordinances gender identity and gender expression language would allow men to be able to use women’s bathrooms (and vice versa) in “public accommodations” based upon their subjective sense of whether they are a male or female allowing for pedophiles to have a defense for using girl’s bathrooms. This shocking provision is being forced onto cities all around the country. The security and privacy of locker rooms, dressing rooms, bathrooms and other separate facilities are all compromised.
5) Creates More Lawsuits and Regulations for Businesses: The ordinance forces individual citizens, businesses and landlords in Jacksonville to be liable to be sued for money damages if they choose to not hire homosexual, transgendered, bi-sexual or gender confused persons in their small businesses, or choose not to accept similar persons as tenants in their private homes or apartments.
6) Violates Religious Freedoms- The ordinance forces Christians and other people of faith to violate their rights of conscience and good faith religious beliefs in business and employment situations and with housing decisions for private property owners.
I implore you to send a message to your city council NOW! Tell them that you oppose this ordinance in any form. Additionally, if you can get to City Hall this Tuesday for the next meeting PLEASE ATTEND.
Our physical presence makes a HUGE difference.
Send this to your list of small business owners so that they too can respond. Send it to your friends and ask them to email and support their city.
While it appears to be most important to send the message to Lori Boyer, Jim Love, Greg Anderson. Robin Lumb, Bill Bishop, Ray Holt and Dr. Johnny Gaffney a message to each member is highly effective.
District 2: William Bishop WBishop@coj.net
District 11: Ray Holt Holt@coj.net
At Large (Group 4) Greg Anderson GAnderson@coj.net
At Large (Group 5) Robin Lumb RLumb@coj.net
District 3: Richard Clark RClark@coj.net
District 5: Lori N. Boyer LBoyer@coj.net
District 7: Dr. Johnny Gaffney - Gaffney@coj.net
District 8: E. Denise Lee EDLee@coj.net
District 9: Warren Jones WAJones@coj.net
District 10: Reginald Brown RBrown@coj.net
District 14: Jim Love JimLove@coj.net
At Large (Group 2) John R. Crescimbeni JRC@coj.net
At Large (Group 3) Stephen C. Joost Joost@coj.net
District 1: Clay Yarborough Clay@coj.net
District 4: Don Redman Redman@coj.net
At-Large (Group 1): Kimberly Daniels KimDaniels@coj.net
District 6: Matt Schellenberg MattS@coj.net
District 12: Doyle Carter doylec@coj.net
District 13: Bill Gulliford Gulliford@coj.net
In addition to your emails you can do more, there is a City Council meeting scheduled at City Hall tomorrow June 26th at 5PM. It is critical that as many people as possible show up as a public display of support AGAINST this bill. Know that the opposition will be there in mass.
Thank you
Views: 1996
Comment
-
Comment by amanda choate on June 29, 2012 at 8:18pm
-
Two networks got it wrong right out of the gate. What is the problem with penalizing those who don't carry their own weight and expect you and I to pay their way for them? What is wromg with that?
-
-
Here it is for you R and T.
Tea Party has gone down a road where those who believe in individual liberty have been subsumed by those who believe in power resting in those of great wealth. They will do what is best for us by doing what is best for themselves. This is otherwise known as AFP. AFP believes the rights of corporations are held higher than those of ordinary citizens, because they provide jobs. Were the Tea Party the party of Ron Paul, the original tea partier, then I believe it would take vastly different stances than it does because of its relationship with AFP.
As for Ken Stump, his remark regarding Justice Kagen was indefensible. I am all for free speech until it involves remarks that threaten others.
One more thing, I have actually read the opinion on this matter. It really worked out better for the states than anyone might imagine. They were given much more leeway if you read the opinion carefully. Medicaid may be on the way out. I am sure that Republicans can take this ruling and make our broken health care system even worse.
They could use this as a jumping off point and get it changed for the better. It is is here, lets make it work. Social Security also went to the Supremes before it was ruled constitutional. It works. Medicare works, S-CHIPS works, the VA works. It can work for us, that to me seems like the smart thing to do, make it he best system in the world. We already pay 50% more percapita than the next highest countryr and on average twice what the rest of the top 20 countries in the world pay per capita, for health care.We deserve better outcomes, we are paying for them.
-
Comment by Debbie G on June 29, 2012 at 6:35pm
-
AFP-Five For Florida plan------- You post without validation-----so sad for those who banter with you
-
-
Amanda, so sad
-
-
...and Leann one thing, Jesus said, "What you do for the least of my brothers, you do unto me."
So I am pretty sure that renting a house to a gay person would not be considered anti-Christian, and definitely does not violate your Christian ethics. It might be the most Christian thing you could do. WWJD
-
-
Roma and Tom and I disagree but they are so right Leann. You can go days on here and nobody is posting or anything. Debbie is paid by AFP, they don't know anything about what is important for the First Coast. They are spending $400,000,000 of their own money on elections this year. Whose inteest do you think they have? So they are paying Debbie to do what,push their agenda. Which is fine and though I am against Citizens United, (speech is not equal to money and the Bill of Rights was designed for people who are of God) they are pushing their agenda not ours. Where they intersect fine, but the needs of the people who gave $400,000,000 come first.
Because I believe two things I sit on the outside looking in, considered too liberal for the Tea Party. I believe the individuals rights are foremost and that government should do everything in its power to protect the individual's rights. Second, I believe the founders gave us government, they expected us to use that government as a tool to improve and grow our country. At every step we have always grown our govenment to improve our country. And for the most part it has worked. We built public schools, not a universal idea at the time. Cities, counties and states built hospitals and schools and health centers and parks and community centers and bridges and roads and boat ramps and water systems and sewage systems and transportation systems and universities and theatres and symphony halls and museums and libraries and lifeguard stands and police stations and fire departments and airports and and and...
WE built them. We raised the money and built these things. We borrowed money and built these things.
And now none of that is good or valuable. Government has gone too far. Asking people who do not have insurance but could afford to have, to pay a TAX because that is the consequence ofg not taking care of your shit. You don't want ot buy insurance fine, but there is a tax for that because one day you are going use that system and when you do, we are going to make sure you do not die iin the street because you were too stupid to buy insurance. So you have to contribute. Sorry it is part of the contract.
It is just like fuel tax. You don't have to buy fuel, nor does the fuel you buy necessarily going into a vehicle that will be driven on public streets. But we tax it all just the same because t he vast majority of it is used in vehicles that use the roads and highways and cause wear and tear on the same. So you pay your .14 cents a gallon. That is what the tax is like for those who don't buy insurance, the vast majority of whom will use the healthcare system at some time in their life.
Or do we continue to give them a free ride? Is that personal responsibility? What does someone not willing to take care of their business and freeload of the rest of us have to do with Tea Party goals. That it is mandated, I am okay with that because I am tired of the free rides we give to people who do not buy medical inusrance. As far as the rest, guaranteed no-drop. Coverage for kids longer, insurance exchanges, no eliminating children with pre-existing conditions, I am for that. Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole, The Heritage Foundation, National Review, Mitt Romney, Senator Grassley, and others have all been for this before the Democrats ever thought of using it, it is a Republican idea that dates all the way back to 1993.
The thought that someone here mentioned the assasination of a sitting US Supreme Court justice as a good thing is appalling and if that person isn't immediately banned then this isn't a place worth belonging to at all. So lets see if Ken Stump is still around here. Ken I will say it to you directly. What you posted is disgusting and beneath contempt. You are a small and vile man.
-
Comment by Leanne King on June 29, 2012 at 3:52pm
-
Remember You are the TEA PARTY. It is we the people. IF you are not ACTIVE who is it that you believe is going to do the work? Where are your ideas and will you step up and engage to help get them done? We really have to much to do to be eating our own out here. Be a tea party warrior and take action.
-
Comment by Patricia M. McBride on June 29, 2012 at 3:24pm
-
Roma, I am not trying to pick a fight with you. I am just sick of you talking down to me like I am not bright enough to have read anything about this. I surely appreciate all you have posted on here, but it isn't all that is out there by any stretch. And this is developing and will until some very learned person goes through this opinion and gives us their learned opinion. So far, we are getting bits and pieces and not something cohesive and comprehensive. I am sure many people have their noses down and are quite busily taking the decision apart to see what has actually been said.
-
-
Ken, actually the other side is just as mad and maybe madder than we are. Roberts, as the chief justice, wrote the decision, and Ginsberg and some of the other liberal judges are ripping, chew nails in half mad about how he handled the opinion. He did it constitutionally and they wanted to allow Obama to use the commerce clause which would have been much worse for our side of this issue. Scalia, bless his heart, was willing to throw the whole thing out had Roberts gone to their side. The fact that Roberts did what he did and has made the comments he has made, lay the blame where the blame belongs. We elected these people and if we don't like the laws they write, then, we should vote them out (basically that was what he told the press when asked about the decision right after it was released). He said his is not to determine if it's a good bill or a bad bill, it is to decide if it is constitutional. I think we counted on the court to take sides, and that isn't what they do. They know over half the country hates this, they also know that over half the states were in the law suit, and they still have to do their job and can't let personalities or polls sway what they do..................exactly the opposite of Obama!
-
-
I have to jump in even if it is on this little phone. Jay hold on til later. We are not losing membership it is growing. The issue is getting people to come to the table and do the work. There are many things being worked that will hopefully remove the liberal agenda. Come and help. Your tea party needs you. Later this keypad is too small
National Debt Clock
The First CoastTea Party is a non-profit organization. We have no deep-pocketed special interest funding our efforts.
You may contact us at:
First Coast Tea Party
1205 Salt Creek Island Dr
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
904-392-7475
Helpful Links
Blog Posts
RYAN NICHOLS - Hardened Criminal?? Seriously??
If you're not already aware. This is what's going on in DC while dangerous criminals are allowed back out on the streets. It's horrifying that this is happening to our citizens and veterans for protesting the hijacking of our election process. This is still happening! They are STILL being tortured and treated like full on terrorists.
You may not be aware of the typical things they're forced to go through...…
ContinuePosted by Babs Jordan on August 14, 2022 at 8:44am
© 2025 Created by LeadershipCouncil.
Powered by
You need to be a member of First Coast Tea Party to add comments!
Join First Coast Tea Party