Gainesville, Fla Voters Refuse to Repeal LGBT Anti-Discrimination Law
Yesterday's Amendment 1 ballot initiative that would have repealed an LGBT anti-discrimination law in Gainesville, Florida was handed a solid defeat by voters, who ignored fear-mongering ads from a "pro-family" group called Citizens for Good Public Policy and turned out in big numbers at the polls.
58% voted to keep the ordinance protecting LGBT citizens.
The Gainesville Sun reports: "Those voting no on Tuesday represents 11,717 voters, compared to the 42 percent who voted for the amendment, or 8,375 votes. Both numbers are exceptional for a city stand-alone election that had two City Commission seats and one other amendment on the ballot. It was roughly 27 percent of the eligible voters compared to the usual turnout of less than 15 percent for a stand-alone city election."
City Commissioner Craig Lowe, who spearheaded efforts to pass the anti-discrimination statute in 2008, was jubilant following Tueday's vote, according to the paper. Said Lowe: "I love this town. Today we showed what we are really made of. This has been an experience that none of us has asked for, but we have established that in Gainesville every person matters."
Thank you to the people of Gainesville Fla! After the past few weeks of articles on gay bashings, murders, assaults etc. it's refreshing to read of fairness and tolerance from the south! Thank you !
Posted by: alex in boston | Mar 25, 2009 7:54:48 AM
Go Gainesville.
There's hope for the universe yet.
Posted by: ichabod | Mar 25, 2009 8:16:10 AM
Florida isn't "the south" - it's a far north you can go by traveling south. The "real south" is always embarrassed by us. This would be another prime example of why.
And, let's not forget that Gainesville is just one ginormous college town, so yes, it would have failed there. This wasn't a victory or triumph over southern bigotry by a long shot.
Posted by: taodon | Mar 25, 2009 8:35:03 AM
A win is a win; a victory is a victory. Question "why" only to learn how the results can be replicated elsewhere. The trend is clearly toward basic human rights for gays but there will be losses along the way.
That is why human rights should not be put to a vote, but, alas, we are still the subjects of "acceptable" discrimination to many older 'folk'. (That term is for you, Mr. President Obama). The younger generation is solidly behind us but it will take a few years for them to reach voting age and actually vote. Thanks to the good people in college towns, overgrown or not.
Posted by: rudy | Mar 25, 2009 9:19:29 AM
With the passage of marriage equality by a huge margin in the Vermont senate and now this great news from Gainesville, I'm almost tempted to think we really are making progress.
Posted by: CitizenGeek | Mar 25, 2009 11:34:32 AM
It is reaffirming and inspiring to read this. If we leverage support from our communities, we can accomplish great things. The time has come to reach out.
Posted by: Rafael | Mar 25, 2009 11:36:36 AM
Given the facts, good people will do good things.
Posted by: www.gaygregator.com | Mar 25, 2009 11:55:40 AM
Gives me hope for the rest of our fair state.
Well, OK, maybe not Podunkville in the Panhandle, but all the others.....
Posted by: steve | Mar 25, 2009 1:05:17 PM
Maybe this is an indication that more gay people have greater confidence coming out, being out and leading by example, which more citizens are responding favorably to. Lets see this snowball. Be proud.
If a 17 yo student from Vermont can, so can we.
Posted by: Grego | Mar 25, 2009 1:12:03 PM
The LGBT nondiscrimination law in Gainesville was enacted the summer before I began attending UFL. Back then, it was still controversial, considering that the county that Gainesville is in, Alachua, had the same law but it was repealed soon after.
Gainesville and UFL are very different places. The town itself is extremely anti-student, however their views on our community are pretty enlightened. I'm not surprised this law stayed in effect. Despite my feelings about the place (I hate it) I have to say that it is a decent place for gays to live if they want to live in an area that still has some "Southern" feel. Personally, I'll just go to Atlanta if I want that. Even though Atlanta has become rather anti-gay of late...
Posted by: Steve | Mar 25, 2009 4:26:52 PM
I was raised in Gainesville, and it is not as bad as some have made it out to be. The surrounding area is definitely Southern, but the locals are not anti-student, and are not really anti-gay. Even without the students, the voters were surprisingly against the ammendment. I have been accepted by most people in and around the city, and I have not attempted to hide my sexuality.
As to whether this was a win over Southern bigotry, I would say yes and no. Yes, because to have defended this anywhere in the South is an accomplishment and should not be belittled. No, because it is not Mississippi (or its equivalent), and is not known to be the most backward state. I was proud to be a native Gainesville resident when the results to this election came out.
Posted by: Daniel | May 28, 2009 3:14:20 PM