Minutes after the votes were cast, the rallying began.
Directly in front of City Hall were proponents of expanding the city’s anti-discrimination laws, waving a rainbow flag and preaching about the need for equality.
Across the street, prayer circles and chants opposing the law’s expansion.
Neither side was particularly happy.
The causes they both pushed for — some since the issue was last debated in 2012 — had been put on hold.
Minutes before, City Council members went through with withdrawing two bills that would determine if the city should — and how it would — expand rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.
Council member Tommy Hazouri made his intent known Saturday.
Long an advocate for expanding the law, he announced he wanted to withdraw his bill that would have kept the decision with elected leaders.
He wanted more time for questions and for education so a later vote would truly reflect any current issues. But, he vowed to bring it back.
That’s what Bill Gulliford took issue with. A companion bill, of sorts, Gulliford’s bill on expanding the law would leave the decision up to voters.
Two weeks ago, he and several others pushed for withdrawal of the Hazouri bill, an effort that came up short.
On Wednesday, the roles were seemingly reversed.
Hazouri wanted the withdrawal. Gulliford wanted the issue voted up or down. A way to settle the issue for the time being and prevent further distractions, he said.
Gulliford said his intention to withdraw his own bill was based on Hazouri permanently withdrawing his.
With Hazouri saying he’d bring the legislation back up, Gulliford forced the issue.
After Hazouri’s bill was withdrawn, council debated approving the Gulliford bill to put the issue on the ballot.
Gulliford said it would provide finality — it’s not often issues come back up after voters decide, no matter the outcome. Support came from colleagues Garrett Dennis and Al Ferraro.
However, opposition came from members like Aaron Bowman, one of co-sponsors on Hazouri’s bill. A protracted, bitter public battle would bring in national attention and influence.
“We will lose control of this becoming a Jacksonville issue,” he said.
Others didn’t like the idea of the ballot measure potentially conflicting with a referendum to extend a half-cent sales tax to pay down the city’s $2.7 billion in pension liabilities.
John Crescimbeni made the motion to withdraw the Gulliford bill, which passed.
After the committee meeting wrapped, a special council meeting began and the group withdrew both bills by 13-6 votes.
Meanwhile, the public had an hour and a half to speak on the issue. Perhaps because it was the last time for dedicated discussion on the topic for now, the tone was particularly acidic.
Disappointment from both sides, calls for the people to decide, questions on how to recall council members, questioning of morals and integrity.
Toward the end of the meeting, several dozen people opposed to expanding the protection ordinance filed into City Hall wearing blue shirts with the message, “If you don’t have our values, you won’t have our votes.”
Emotions ran high until those final votes were cast that essentially paused the conversation.
So the sides spilled out in front of City Hall, doing the only thing they really could do at that point.
They rallied, knowing their side had neither won nor lost and the fight continues for another day.
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