Orange County, FL passes sweeping anti-discrimination law

[Not Me]

Orange County leaders joined the ranks of most other urban areas in Florida on Tuesday by voting 6-1 to expand anti-discrimination protections for gay people in the private sector.

The vote was notable for its lack of opposition. No residents spoke against it, in stark contrast to the city of Orlando's passage of similar protections in 2002, which attracted fierce debate, religious group antagonism and a close vote.

"It's a completely different world than it was 10 years ago," said Patrick Howell, a lawyer and activist who lobbied for the new protections in both Orlando and the county.

more at:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/os-gay-rights-orange-20101123,0,6439856.story

[T Wolf]

1. This country really is divided between urban and rural. And I do not see that changing.

The question is - how to complete the split and let each area govern itself.

[RetiredTrotskyite]

2. Sadly...

neither do I.

[dsc]

5. tell that to gay kids in rural areas

we can't just let rural areas govern themselves.

[plantwomyn]

6. what happened to

"indivisible, with liberty and justice for all"? It's bad enough that the minute my wife and I drove across the Mississippi river my mom started to cry because she knew that the warmth and acceptance we felt in Iowa had just evaporated. Why would you think it would be a good thing to just accept the fact that within a state, from one county to another, our rights evaporate?

[T Wolf]

7. ...that's just a dream some of us had. Sadly, I have accepted that the enemy will never change

and the best we can do is separate so that they do not destroy everything.

[Mojorabbit]

3. I live here

and am so glad this has happened. Way past time.

[DarkTirade]

4. Its a different world in Orlando because several of the huge megachurches

that were the driving force behind the anti-equal rights crap have pulled up their roots there and left for Texas.

Its still a Republican cesspool there, just a much more secular Republican cesspool than it used to be.