by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The City’s equal rights watchdog, the Human Rights Commission, is proceeding with its research to determine if the community is experiencing discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The commission agreed Tuesday to hire Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI) to conduct the research to find out if the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community is experiencing discrimination and, if so, how often it occurs.
“We are trying to find out what are the discriminations the LGBT community is experiencing,” said Cindy Watson, commission chair. “We are moving forward to determine the need and find out the community views.”
JCCI describes itself as, “a nonpartisan civic organization that engages diverse citizens in open dialogue, research, consensus building, advocacy and leadership development” in an effort to improve the quality of life in Northeast Florida.
The research will establish whether or not there is cause for the Human Rights Commission to request the City Council change the Jacksonville Municipal Code to include sexual orientation into its equal rights legislation.
Jacksonville’s current municipal code does not allow discrimination “on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, familial status or marital status when dealing with fair housing, employment or public accommodations.”
The Human Rights Commission consists of 18 members, and it can have up to 20 members, who are appointed by the mayor to a three-year term and members can apply for a second three-year term.
The commission was informed by Education and Community Outreach Director Anthony Butler that the “Study Circle Initiative” will begin again in October. It is a dialogue program on racial and ethnic relations sponsored by the JHRC. The program brings together 8-14 individuals of different racial and ethnic backgrounds to meet for two hours a week for five weeks.
“We are looking to build on what we have accomplished,” said Butler.
It was created to provide an open and honest forum for the discussion of racism and race/ethnic relations. There is no cost to join the study circles, and they are located Downtown, Riverside, Southside, Arlington and Northside. Contact the Human Rights Commission for more information at 630-4620 or [email protected].
Also, the Human Rights Commission is sponsoring “Know Your Rights-Understanding your rights and responsibilities as an employee.”
The program is targeted at people age 16-21 who are relatively new to the workforce. Topics that will be covered include proper dress in the workplace, sexual harassment, understanding rights in the workplace and unfair treatment in the work place.
It will be held in the auditorium at the Main Library from 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 20.
356-2466