Mayor Alvin Brown’s decision to have city lawyers study anti-discrimination laws and best practices came after a recent realization the issue was important to residents.
“Over the course of the last several months, it became abundantly clear that people want action to set the city up to know how to handle discrimination,” said Brown’s campaign spokesman, Yianni Varonis.
A University of North Florida poll released in March showed 62 percent of residents support adding sexual orientation to the list of groups protected from workplace discrimination.
The mayor wants a broad, comparative study of federal, state and local laws to ensure the City Council has the information it needs to prevent discrimination in the city, according to a news release issued Thursday.
Brown asked that the study be completed by June 30. The new council takes office July 1.
Three years ago, council heavily debated and ultimately rejected a Human Right Ordinance that would have added sexual orientation to the city’s discrimination policy.
Brown did not take a public stand on the ordinance, only saying he was against discrimination.
When asked if the mayor felt differently about the issue now, Varonis said, “I don’t think it’s necessarily a difference except the fact that he has had three more years to be mayor and had the opportunity to spend more time with his constituents … and to learn more about the issues they care about.”
When asked if Brown regretted not taking a public stand on the issue in 2012, Varonis said, “I think the mayor would regret not taking action after the study comes in.”
He would not answer whether Brown had regrets about not taking a stand on the ordinance three years ago.
Varonis discounted the timing of the announcement, which came less than a month before the May 19 election. He said Brown only made the decision this week to seek the study.
Jimmy Midyette, chair of the Northeast Florida LGBT Leadership PAC, said he understands politics and “I think there may be a political motivation at play here.”
“But the fact is the mayor is now talking about discrimination in a different way than he has since his election,” he said. “I see it as a step in the mayor’s evolution on the issue.”
Midyette said a comparative study will show the difference between Jacksonville’s discrimination policy versus other cities will be the lack of including sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. The latter two categories were originally included in the 2012 ordinance but removed before the council vote was taken.
Brown shared the news about the study through a video statement issued by his campaign, not his office. An accompanying news release provided statements of support from three people, including former council member Matt Carlucci.
He said preventing all types of discrimination will attract the top workers and companies to help grow Jacksonville’s economy.
Brown has the power to issue an executive order making any changes he would like to the city’s discrimination policy, but Varonis said the mayor wanted the study conducted instead.
Midyette said he looked at Brown not seeking an executive order issue in two ways.
On the practical side, he said, an executive order can be rescinded by any future mayor.
But, he said, “My more cynical statement, and probably closer to what I believe, is to issue such an executive order would require him to take an affirmative step on LGBT rights that is explicit.”
Midyette said many in the LGBT community would be interested in providing feedback and assistance to city lawyers conducting the study.
“There are people like me who have been involved in issues like this for a long time that could be a resource to the general counsel in framing the study,” said Mid-yette, who is an attorney.
Brown’s letter dated Wednesday was sent to Jason Gabriel, who began paternity leave that same day. Chief Deputy General Counsel Derrel Chatmon told the Daily Record on Thursday that he was unaware of the mayor’s request and unsure who will handle the matter while Gabriel is out.
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