For those of you who are not following this on a national level, you need to understand this is being talked about as a way to break the first amendment and limit freedom of speech and religion. The democrats in our US senate are discussing this, and as with all the other moves they make, it is a power play as "they know best" and the issue is not important (they are using the gay community) but the results and what this would do, are important to forcing everyone to fall in line with their way of thinking which really can't be done.
If this bill is passed, it will severely limit your freedom of speech and your freedom of religion. As others have indicated, locally at least, it will send a clear message to Christian businesses that Jacksonville is not a friendly place for their business. Some Christian businesses will move elsewhere rather than violate their beliefs, and jobs will be lost. There is no up side to this bill, because it will intensify negative feeling and probably create negative feelings where none existed before. It will not improve conditions for the gay community as it mandates that people violate their religious convictions, so where there was a "live and let live philosophy" due to our right to freedom of association, there will be animosity, dislike and perhaps even something less than Christian (which is what you get when you back someone into a corner). Those who strongly believe this life style is morally wrong will not be legislated to accept something that violates their faith and beliefs, so for the gentlemen who wanted to show is right arm on the beach, good luck with that as you can't legislate that people like you, but while you are out there on the beach showing your gayness, many people won't be able to take their children there to watch you strut your sex, because they won't want their children exposed to your "in everyone's face" behavior. I don't see any straight people having sex on the beach, so your behavior will not be appropriate for children anymore than the sex between a straight couple on the beach would be. Grow up!
As for the city council members who would vote in favor of this bill, shame on you and start looking for a new career, because the majority of people have told you that they appose this bill. As far as our former mayors, one has only to look at the condition our city is in to understand their judgement and ability to make good decisions is deeply flawed as are the judgement of most of those former city council members who voted in lock step for bad union contracts and other bills that have taken our city to the brink of bankrupcy, so you will excuse me if I don't think any of you should be telling anyone what they ought to do about this issue or for that matter any issue.
And if you have not taken any action on this bill, call or write to your council member or go down and talk to him or her. This is not just an important issue, it is paramount if you want to keep your freedom of speech and religion!
.........................................................
June 13, 2012
Despite rumors, no vote was taken on the discrimination measure Tuesday.
June 13, 2012 - 12:05am
Past Council presidents, mayors back Jacksonville bill on sexual orientation
Nine former Jacksonville City Council presidents and two past mayors publicly endorsed legislation Tuesday to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Then the current council president, Stephen Joost, denied he would push through a vote on the bill (2012-296), a story that had spread fast and helped draw a crowd of people from both sides of the debate.
“There’s been a massive email campaign that started the rumor,” Joost said, adding he hoped council committees would vote next week.
The bill would outlaw discrimination in employment, housing and access to public accommodations such as hotels and restaurants.
Former mayors John Peyton and John Delaney headlined the gathering in City Hall’s rotunda, opposite the council chamber where people wore T-shirts and stickers declaring their sympathies on the bill.
Former council presidents backing the bill included bill sponsor Warren Jones, Bill Basford, Elaine Brown, Matt Carlucci, Alberta Hipps, Jim Overton (now property appraiser), Eric Smith, Terry Wood and Jack Webb.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-06-13/story/past-council-pr...
You need to be a member of First Coast Tea Party to add comments!
Join First Coast Tea Party