FACT VS. FICTION

The Leon County Human Rights Ordinance will extend equal protections to ALL citizens in Leon County. Unfortunately, it seems that not everyone appreciates that concept and some opponents of the ordinance are spreading blatant misconceptions.

  • Will expanding these protections hurt local businesses?

    • ABSOLUTELY NOT! the most successful corporations are already providing employment protections for sexuality and gender. A poll of the top Fortune 500 companies finds that 87% of them provide inclusive protections from discrimination. The majority of these leaders in innovation and industry have recognized they must protect employees from all types of discrimination to ensure that they are able to attract and retain the most diverse and talented workforce possible. Commendably, the City of Tallahassee and the Leon County School Board are among local employers that provide these protections.

If you have other questions about the effects of this ordinance, please feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to set the record straight.

LGBT HARRASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION IN TALLAHASSEE

In 2006, Petra L. Doan, an associate professor with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Florida State University published the results of a sample survey of the LGBT population of the Tallahassee Metropolitan area. The report shows that 46% of those surveyed experienced verbal harrassment and 18% experienced some form of discrimination in housing or employment. Read the survey online.

GENDER IDENTITY AROUND THE STATE

As of January 22, 2010, 129 cities and counties in the United States prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of gender identity in employment ordinances that governed all public and private employers in those jurisdictions. Click here to review a list of those cities and counties.

Florida Cities and Counties That Prohibit Discrimination Based on Gender Identity in Public and Private Employment:

  • Broward County, enacted 2008
  • Dunedin, enacted 2002
  • Gainesville, enacted 2008
  • Gulfport, enacted 2005
  • Key West, enacted 2003
  • Lake Worth, enacted 2007
  • Miami Beach, enacted 2004
  • Monroe County, enacted 2003
  • Palm Beach County, enacted 2007
  • Oakland Park, enacted 2007
  • Tampa, enacted 2009
  • West Palm Beach, enacted 2007