We hope this message finds you and your family well and that you had a blessed celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this past weekend.

We are sorry that we missed sending you week 5 of our Insider’s Report, but we’ve included it in this week’s report.  The Legislature slowed down a bit in Week 6 because of Passover and Good Friday, but for the days that the Legislature was in session this week, each chamber began passing their version of the budget and most of the normal committee meetings were canceled.

The Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) met in Tallahassee this past week and several local residents made statements at the public hearing held at Florida A&M University. At every city the CRC has held a public hearing in thus far, many citizen’s have testified and expressed concerned about Article 1, Section 23, Florida’s Privacy Clause which was enacted in 1980 by a vote of 60% of voters to protect citizens from the government collecting private information.  But nine years after it was passed in 1989, the Florida Supreme Court ignored the legislative intent and history of the amendment and suddenly found a fundamental right to abortion for a minor child in the clause in case of In Re: T.W. A Minor, 551 So. 2d 1186 (1989).  There has been a strong show of support of pro-lifers and constitutionalists asking the CRC to fix the privacy clause. Planned Parenthood supporters are also appearing asking the CRC to protect Florida’s very strong right to abortion. Interestingly, none of the mainstream media covering the hearings have reported this issue accurately.  We reported several weeks ago that our President, John Stemberger was appointed for the next year and a half to the CRC by Florida Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran.  The CRC only gathers every 20 years as per the Florida Constitution.  For more information on upcoming public hearings in Gainesville, Jacksonville, Panama City and Tampa check out the official website at FloridaCRC.gov.

During Week 5, there was a move by Rep. David Richardson (D) to add non-discrimination language for sexual orientation and gender identity to a bill regulating ridesharing companies (i.e. Uber, Lyft).  Rep. Richardson who is one of two openly gay-identified legislators in Florida, filed two separate amendments to the bill.  The first stated that these services are public accommodations and adding the non-discrimination language to the law governing public accommodations (adding some of the most controversial parts of the Competitive Workforce Act to statute). This amendment failed in a voice vote. Rep. Richardson then moved to the next proposed amendment which would require each company’s non-discrimination policy to include sexual orientation and gender identity. This also failed in a voice vote, but Democrats then forced a roll call vote (meaning we know how each member voted).  We expect to see more of these types of moves in the future and will be on the lookout for them.

The biggest news out of Week 6 in the Legislature was in the House during Floor Debate on a controversial bill which allocates $200 million to “Schools of Hope”.  Schools of Hope are charter schools which are established within 5 miles of perpetually failing schools; however, the organizations establishing these schools must have a proven track record of success within impoverished communities.  Prior to the debate, Rep. Shevrin Jones (D) held a press conference with Tallahassee mayor and extreme left wing Democrat, gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum opposing the bill.  All told, the House spent over five hours debating the measure this week before passing it 77-40 along party lines.  The Senate then picked up the bill but refused to pass the House language meaning it will be sent to committee.

Now for the action report from Amber Kelly, our Communications and Political Director, on the bills that we’re most closely monitoring…

GOOD BILLS

ADOPTION / FOSTER CARE 

HB 363 / SB 200 Temporary Respite Care for Families in Crisis
Sponsors: Rep. Frank White (R), Rep. Patricia Williams (D), Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (R)

This bill helps families in crisis by allowing parents to place their children with respite care families temporarily while they work to better the situation for the entire family (whether it is seeking treatment for addiction, finding a job, etc.) This program is for families where there are no allegations of abuse/neglect which would cause DCF to remove the children from their home.

The Senate version was heard in its first committee during Week 5.  Despite the 5-0 vote in favor of the bill, senators expressed concern about some of the provisions of the bill. Some of the senators’ concerns were based on a misunderstanding of the situations in which the program operates. Specifically, some senators were concerned that the program is for families dealing with troubled youth, which is not the case.  The Family Law section of the Florida Bar opposes the bill; it appears their opposition is solely because they believe lawyers need to be involved in the process and a foster-care lite system should be implemented. Florida Family Action is continuing to support the bill and encourage senators to support this highly successful, worthwhile program. The Senate Judiciary committee will be hearing the bill next Wednesday.

The full House heard this bill in second reading on Tuesday and passed it in a 96-16 vote on Wednesday. The nay votes primarily centered around concerns over notifying a non-custodial parent that the custodial parent was going to enter into a respite care agreement.  Rep. Lori Berman (D) proposed two amendments to require notification prior to an agreement, which does not always work in crisis situations requiring immediate care or changing the notification period from five days to two. Both amendments failed.

LIFE 

HB 969 / SB 1130 Pregnancy Support Services 
Sponsors: Rep. Jackie Toledo (R) and Sen. Aaron Bean (R)

This bill would require the Department of Health to contract with a network of crisis pregnancy centers to provide support services for women who suspect or know they are pregnant for the term of their pregnancy through the first year of the child’s life.  The services provided cannot be noncoercive nor contain religious content.

The full House heard this bill in second reading during Week 5 and passed it in a 79-38 vote, but not before House Democrats spent both days grilling bill sponsor Rep. Jackie Toledo (R).  Claiming that they were concerned with center standards and rising costs, Democrats opposed this bill. Perhaps the most shocking statements were made regarding ensuring that women had access to abortions and their opposition to providers who were pro-life.  If you have a few extra moments, be sure to thank Rep. Toledo for her sponsorship of this bill and standing strong during the hours she was questioned on the House floor.

The Senate version of this bill is scheduled to be heard in its second committee stop (of three) next Tuesday. While time is running short, this bill can still pass this legislative session.

EDUCATION 

HB 1391 / SB 1556 Clarifying Homeschool Requirements 
Sponsors: Rep. Eric Eisnaugle (R), Sen. Tom Lee (R)

This bill seeks to ensure that school districts cannot interfere with a family’s decision to homeschool once they are provided proper notice unless they receive corroborated outside evidence that the children are not being educated properly.

The House bill was very quickly passed out of its final committee on Thursday morning during week 5 in a unanimous vote by the Education Committee.  It is headed to the floor of the House, but the Senate version has yet to pass its first committee. The Senate bill was heard in a workshop this week but has not been scheduled for a vote.  FFA requested that the committee chair schedule the bill for a vote, but it has not yet been granted.

HB 833 / SB 692 Revising Student Eligibility for Virtual School 
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill removes a requirement that 2nd through 5th graders be enrolled in a public school in the year prior to enrolling in virtual school.

The House bill passed favorably out of its final committee unanimously and is now on 2^nd reading in the House.  It has not yet been put on the Special Order calendar to be heard.

The Senate version was heard in an Education Committee workshop but has not yet been voted on to pass it to the next committee.  A similar bill, SB 868, which includes provisions regarding open enrollment and Florida Virtual School is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday in its second (of three) committee.

HB 15 / SB 1314 Expanding the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Denise Grimsley (R)

This bill expands the students who are eligible for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program.

The House bill passed out of its final committee and is scheduled to be heard in the full House next Tuesday. During its final committee stop, the bill was amended to once again include an expansion of the Gardiner Scholarship Program (which had been removed during its first committee stop due to funding concerns).

The Senate version was scheduled to be heard by the Education Committee but wasn’t during week 5.  It is once again scheduled for consideration in that committee for next Monday. The Education Committee is the first stop out of four total for the Senate bill so it must start moving quickly if it is to pass this year.

HB 549 / SB 906 Publication of State Assessment Tests for Parental and Educational Review 
Sponsors: Rep. Randy Fine (R), Sen. Greg Steube (R), House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee

This bill seeks to require the publication of certain state assessment tests every three years.  Currently, no one has access to the questions on these exams, including the Department of Education nor any government officials.  Students are being told that they cannot tell anyone the content of test questions, including their parents.

The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee passed its version of the bill unanimously, but it has not yet been scheduled to be heard in Education (the final stop).  The Senate bill still has not been scheduled for a vote in its first committee (although it has been workshopped).

GAMING 

HB 7037 Addressing Gambling Long-Term 
Sponsor: Rep. Mike La Rosa (R) and the Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee

This bill will constrict or freeze gambling in Florida by requiring the Governor to renegotiate the state’s compact with the Seminole Tribe, with terms for a 20-year contract.

This bill was scheduled to be heard by the full House during week 5. Upon the introduction of the bill, the House picked up the Senate gambling bill (SB 8) and amended it to conform it to HB 7037.  During both the 2^nd and 3^rd reading, while some members chose to participate in questions and debate, it was largely understood that a conference committee would be convened to negotiate the vast differences between the chambers’ bills.  The bill was passed 73-40, along party lines.  The Senate refused to concur and a conference committee has been announced with the following members: Sen. Galvano (Alternating Chair – R), Rep. J Felix Diaz (Alternating Chair -R), Sen. Benacquisto (R), Sen. Braynon (D), Sen. Flores (R), Rep. Geller (D), Sen. Hutson (R), Rep. La Rosa (R), Rep. Metz (R), Rep. Moskowitz (D), Rep. Nunez (R).and Sen. Thurston (D).  It remains to be seen whether the House and Senate will be able to come to terms regarding gaming this year.  FFA continues to encourage the House to stay strong on its bill to restrict the expansion of gaming long-term.

HB 937 / SB 1370 Warnings for Lottery Games
Sponsors: Rep. Jennifer Sullivan (R), Sen. Keith Perry (R), House Tourism & Gaming Control Subcommittee

This bill would require a warning placed on lottery tickets that lottery games can be addictive.

The bill was heard in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee (first of three committees) and passed 7-3. Sen. Gibson (D) opposed the bill because she does not believe the lottery is gambling. There was no action on the House version of the bill.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING 

HB 1383 / SB 852 Child Victims of Human Trafficking 
Sponsors: Rep. Jeanette Nuñez (R), Sen. Rene Garcia (R)

This bill seeks to help children who have been the victims of sex trafficking by requiring the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to maintain a database of services available for victims of commercial sexual exploitation, increases the situations in which a defendant’s confession may be used at trial, outlines procedures for assisting victims, and requires officials to follow up with victims within six months to evaluate services used and their effectiveness.

The House bill passed out of its final committee unanimously and is on 2^nd reading for consideration by the full House.  The Senate version was passed out of its final committee, was placed on the Special Order calendar, and is scheduled for 3^rd reading and final vote next Tuesday.

HB 1165 / SB 972 Florida Compensation Trust Fund for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Sponsor: Rep. Ross Spano (R), House Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee

This bill allows victims of human trafficking to sue the individuals who engaged in their trafficking.

The House version has passed out of its final committee and will be placed on the 2^nd reading calendar next week.  The Senate version had been scheduled to be heard in its first committee during week 5, but was postponed.  The bill is scheduled to be heard in its first committee next week and will also be heard in its second committee (Judiciary) if the first committee passes it favorably.  We thank Sen. Greg Steube (R), who chairs Senate Judiciary, for placing it on his agenda this week.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY 

HB 303 / SB 436 Religious Liberty in Public Schools or “Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act” 
Sponsors: Rep. Kim Daniels (D), Rep. Patricia Williams (D), Sen. Dennis Baxley (R)

This bill codifies the current state of religious liberty in public schools. It prohibits a school district from discriminating against students, parents, or school personnel on the basis of religious viewpoints or expression and clarifies that a school cannot penalize or reward a student’s religious expression in their coursework, artwork, or other specified assignments.  It provides equal access to all religions and non-religions before, during, and after school.

This bill was placed on the Special Order Calendar in week 5. Once the bill was read, the Senate version was picked up and amended to conform to the House version of the bill.  With very little fanfare, the bill was passed 114-3 and sent back to the Senate to either concur or refuse (sending it to conference). It remains to be seen what will happen with the bill, although Senate President Negron opened session stating that this bill was a priority for him.

ISRAEL

HB 281 / SB 574 Opposing United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2334
Sponsors: Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D), Sen. Kevin Rader (D)

This Resolution pronounces that the Legislature opposes and requests the repeal or fundamental alteration of UN Resolution 2334, which stated that Israel’s settlement activity constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, has no legal validity and is a major obstacle to the vision of two states living side-by-side in peace and security.  It calls on the US to ensure that the UN Resolution is no longer one-sided and anti-Israel and authorizes all final-status issues toward a two-state solution to be resolved through direct, bilateral negotiations between the parties involved.

The Senate adopted the Resolution by voice vote during week 5.

BAD BILLS 

LGBT RIGHTS

HB 623 / SB 666 Creating Special Rights for LGBT Citizens or “Florida’s Competitive Workforce Act” 
Sponsors: Rep. Ben Diamond (D), Rep. Rene Plasencia (R), Sen. Jeff Clemens (D)

The CWA adds sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to Florida’s Civil Rights Act of 1992 as impermissible grounds for discrimination. This bill provides a new way for LGBT individuals to sue employers and small businesses for discrimination and would allow men access to use women’s showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, women’s domestic violence shelters, etc.

This bill which we have described as the worst bill proposed in the Florida Legislature due to its effect on public safety and religious liberty has not been scheduled to be heard in committee.  We continue to educate legislators on the dangers of this piece of legislation, and it continues to be dead on arrival despite some liberal Republican support.

GAMBLING

SB 8 Gaming Expansion Bill 
Sponsor: Sen. Bill Galvano (R)

This bill was amended by the House to conform to its good gambling bill. The Senate refused to concur and the two chambers will convene in conference to iron out their differences. The following legislators were named to the conference committee:  Sen. Galvano (Alternating Chair – R), Rep. J Felix Diaz (Alternating Chair -R), Sen. Benacquisto (R), Sen. Braynon (D), Sen. Flores (R), Rep. Geller (D), Sen. Hutson (R), Rep. La Rosa (R), Rep. Metz (R), Rep. Moskowitz (D), Rep. Nunez (R).and Sen. Thurston (D).  It remains to be seen whether the House and Senate will be able to come to terms regarding gaming this year.  FFA continues to encourage the House to stay strong in its resolve to restrict the expansion of gaming long-term.

HB 149 / SB 592 Fantasy Gaming
Sponsors: Rep. Jason Brodeur (R), Sen. Dana Young (R)

The bill effectively legalizes fantasy sports contests in Florida and states that it is not gambling.

This bill unanimously passed the House Ways & Means Committee (second of three committees) during Week 5. This bill has met with no resistance in the House to date. While the Senate companion has not moved, the larger Senate gaming bill (SB 8) does address fantasy gaming.  If the two chambers are able to come to an agreement on a gambling bill, we wonder if this might be part of the package.

ALCOHOL

HB 81 / SB 106 Hard Liquor in Grocery Stores 
Sponsors: Rep. Bryan Avila (R), Sen. Anitere Flores (R)

Dubbed “Whiskey and Wheaties,” this bill would allow grocery stores and large retail stores to sell hard liquor in their main store rather than building or renting a separate store to sell liquor.

This bill was placed on the Special Order Calendar for the 2^nd time and then postponed once again while the House was in session.  Rep. Scott Plakon (R) proposed two amendments to the bill which opponents say are meant to kill the bill. One of the measures would require all store employees in a retail store selling hard liquor to be at least 21 years of age.  Rep. Plakon believes this is good public policy and expands the choices that retailers currently have; it allows them to sell alcohol in their main store but ensures that those who are underage won’t be responsible for liquor sales.

With two postponements and the fact that it hasn’t been scheduled for the third time, we believe this bill is dead for the year.

The post Legislative Insider’s Report: Weeks 5/6 of 9 appeared first on Florida Family Action.

I will get right to the point.

If this election goes the wrong way, we may all have to return to being “Ichthus” Christians where we are sneaking around just to speak of our faith in secret because we are unable to publicly.

The ichthus, (pronounced “ikh-thoos”) the “fish symbol,” was used by Christians (as early as the 1st Century AD) to help identify with one another silently, in the hope of escaping persecution.  Christians would often draw an “ichthus” to let other Christians know that they were fellow believers of Christ and that it was safe to talk about their faith.

Fast forward to 2016…

We are on the brink of being in a similar place as the early church, where government sanctioned persecution of Christians is the norm!

And while we may not yet face physical death, we are on track to face the death of our robust religious liberty, our ability to worship, our ability to preach from the Bible, our ability to live our lives and run our businesses according to Scripture and speak of our faith publicly.  After our rights are stripped, the consequences and the persecution will come.

If we are going to stop this from happening, we need your help today. 

Would you invest with a sacrificial gift now to help our election efforts to preserve religious liberty? 

Time is short, with less than 3 weeks left until the election.

We must ACT NOW if we are going to thwart, stop or hopefully reverse this devastating course our culture is on.

Evidence that the persecution and attempted eradication of our faith has already begun:

• In Iowa and Massachusetts, Christian churches are being told they are now public accommodations and need to comply with non-discrimination laws as it relates to transgender use of showers, locker rooms and bathrooms.  These anti-liberty sexual orientation and gender identity, or SOGI, laws in state civil rights codes (exactly like the Florida Competitive Workforce Act which will be proposed again in 2017) are creating the problems and could grant government a “green light to directly regulate churches.”  This is outrageous but it’s exactly where the battle is headed—inside the walls of your local church.

• In Pennsylvania, the Senate Labor and Industry Committee recently held a hearing on a bill which would make it illegal for religious churches, schools and other religious organizations to only hire employees that agree with the religious organization’s teaching on sexuality, marriage and gender. Our opponents are pushing hard for this.

• In California, three faith-based crisis pregnancy centers are in the middle of a legal battle to continue to operate according to their faith by offering resources, counseling, advice and alternatives to abortion.  The State of California is requiring them to post agovernment-approved message – promoting free or low cost access to “family planning” (or ABORTION!) or be fined $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for each additional violation. This law was just upheld by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Christian business owners providing goods and services to weddings throughout our country are being attacked by SOGI laws which enable gay activists to slap businesses with costly lawsuits and fines for simply living out their faith, if they choose not to celebrate or participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies with their creative and artistic services.

• Business owners, corporations, and organizations which provide health insurance to their employees are being forced to pay for abortions or abortifacient drugs throughObamacare, regardless of their, or the employees,’ religious beliefs that all life is sacred. Any disagreement or failure to comply is met with government imposed fines and penalties.

If you disagree with this encroachment on our religious liberty, would you stand with us today and help us preserve this precious right with a secure online gift?

Did you notice the consistent government enforcer in the examples above?

… legal battle in a US District Court  (DISTRICT COURTS) which could grant government a green light to regulate churches

… Senate Labor and Industry Committee  (THE STATE LEGISLATURE)

… government approved message  (by THE STATE)

… federal government mandated “Affordable Care Act” or “Obamacare”.  (OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT carrying out the will of the President of the United States.)

Here is my point:  You and I have an impact on every single one of these branches and levels of government, directly or indirectly, which determine our future – WHEN WE VOTE!

Unfortunately, many voters are confused about voting in this election, and have said they may sit out this election and not vote.  That would be catastrophic.  We must not be governed by emotions and feelings.  Rather we must look at the facts which our Voter Guides present clearlyHERE.

We must reach more Christian voters, educate them with the facts, and encourage them to vote.  This takes substantial funding.  Will you help us with a gift of any amount today?

IF WE DON’T REACH MORE CHRISTIANS, EDUCATE THEM WITH THE FACTS, AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO VOTE, WE ARE CERTAIN TO LOSE MANY OF OUR RELIGIOUS LIBERTIES IN AMERICA WITHIN THE NEXT 4 YEARS.

On November 9^th, I hope we can all wake up knowing we have done everything within our power to protect religious liberty for our children and our next generation.  I hope you will join me in this effort with both PRAYER and with a GIFT of any amount today HERE.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

John Stemberger

PS:  Our impact will be limited only by our funding.  Thank you in advance for giving your best gift possible at this time, and for praying for us, our efforts, and our country!

The post We may all become ichthus Christians if… appeared first on Florida Family Action.

Many of these SOGI laws also involve a gross invasion of privacy and create safety and security issues by allowing fully biological men to use women’s bathrooms.  Don’t be fooled by smooth sounding names like “Human Rights Ordinances,” “Equal Rights Ordinances” and the latest deceptive name, the “Competitive Workforce Act.”  Adding totally subjective terms like sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression to legitimate non-discrimination statutes directly undermines our First Amendment rights of religious liberty, free speech and freedom of association.

Jacksonville’s new Mayor, Lenny Curry, has called for three community hearings or conversations on the idea of revisiting whether or not the city should enact a “Human Rights Ordinance” (HRO) like the one that was defeated soundly in 2012 by the City Council.  The final community discussion was held this week. 

Continue to visit this page for the latest updates.

Current Research on the harm of HROs:
The Heritage Foundation: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Laws Threaten Freedom by Ryan T. Anderson, PhD 
All citizens should oppose unjust discrimination, but sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) laws are not the way to achieve that goal. SOGI laws are neither necessary nor cost-free. They threaten fundamental First Amendment rights. They create new, subjective protected classes that will expose citizens to unwarranted liability. Furthermore, SOGI laws would increase government interference in labor, housing, and commercial markets in ways that could harm the economy. Yet SOGI’s damage is not only economic: It would further weaken the marriage culture and the freedom of citizens and their associations to affirm their religious or moral convictions, such as that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and that maleness and femaleness are not arbitrary constructs but objective ways of being human. SOGI laws would treat expressing these widely held beliefs in certain contexts as unlawful discrimination.

Alliance Defending Freedom: Protect Your Ministry from SOGI: Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Lawsuits
The scope and nature of the threat posed by SOGIs and related laws warrants special, focused attention. This guide provides that focus. In the following pages, you will find examples of what other Christians around the country are facing; how your church, school, or ministry may be vulnerable to similar threats; and what you can do to secure crucial legal protections to help enable you to weather the fast-approaching legal storms.

Recent Jacksonville News on the Issue:
12.23.15: Councilan’s Pro HRO Op-Ed Generates Hate Mail, Positive Mail Pushback
The messaging war over expanding Jacksonville’s HRO, or human rights ordinance, is heating up as Christmas draws near, with District 3 City Councilman Aaron Bowman the latest to enter the fray…I can also tell you that we have lost businesses that were considering Jacksonville. And that we risk losing our current vital businesses due to our discriminatory ways. Just recently, the CEO of a large company here in Jacksonville that proposes to add hundreds of high-paying jobs told me that the project would go somewhere else if we do not pass the HRO. I haven’t heard an argument that would justify our behavior. And since I get so many emails from Jacksonville residents, I am going to ask for more.

12.21.15: First Baptist Church Weighs In On “Pansexuals,” Jax Hro Expansion: Referendum Would “Probably Not Pass”
“It is time to resolve the upcoming HRO expansion issue,” the letter began, stipulating that “if one’s religion precludes participating in an activity, or appearing to support that activity, that should be respected.”

12.19.15: HRO supporters and opponents see reason to hope Mayor Curry will fall on their side
Jacksonville is the next large city to tackle the issue after voters in Houston repealed a similar measure, giving the fight here higher visibility. Two City Council members filed opposing bills on the issue last week, but all eyes are on Curry, who just completed three wide-ranging town hall-like meetings on the ordinance and says he will take the holidays to decide how his administration will move forward.

“I’m not going to let political theater or antics or any movement pressure me into a timeline or the direction I’m going to go,” he said. “I began this process. I’m going to complete this process.”

12.19.15: Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford steps in on HRO while Mayor Curry mulls
Gulliford said he wants a decisive conclusion to the long-standing and divisive issue of expanding discrimination protections, but his unilateral action has frustrated council members who believe Curry, not the council, should have made the first move.

12.17.15: Atlantic Beach fields no complaints after adopting HRO
In August of 2014, the city [Atlantic Beach in Duval County] approved a measure after nearly a year of intense debate. Since then, records show, no one has filed a complaint alleging discrimination…”Doesn’t surprise me personally. Don’t think had an issue in the first place,” said Atlantic Beach Mayor Mitch Reeves…

Mayor Lenny Curry is still weighing options following three community meetings. The final community forum was held this week, drawing a standing room only crowd.

12.17.15: Jax Coalition for Equality: “Dismayed” by HRO Referendum
“A referendum would be a serious departure from the City Council’s responsibility to address discrimination based on status. Of all the categories in our HRO, none has ever been placed on a ballot,” the JCE statement continued, adding that “a referendum eliminates the ability to address legitimate and specific concerns through the deliberative process of City Council committee meetings.”

12.16.15: Email Insights: Jax City Council’s BIll Gulliford Calls for HRO Referendum
Following on the heels of Tuesday’s third, packed and final “community conversation” on expanding Jacksonville’s human rights ordinance to cover LGBT residents from discrimination, Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Gulliford has emailed media outlets saying he’s filed the same ordinance that was voted on in 2012 “with one addition – a provision for a referendum by the voters on the issue.”

12.16.15: Councilman wants voters to decide on HRO
Now that the town hall meetings on the proposed changes to Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinances are over, one councilman is calling for the choice to go to voters.

12.16.15: Open discussions on Jacksonville’s HRO ends
“You may not agree with the person sitting next to you, but we’re all here as citizens of Jacksonville,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry.

12.15.15: Jacksonville HRO Community Conversations Finally Over
Gannam noted that he’s “been up here a lot lately,” and then observed that “this law is not warranted” given that “LGBT persons recognize the fairness of Jacksonville” and live here in great numbers.

12.14.15: Supporters of LGBT ordinance roll out list of supportive businesses; opponent says that proves his point
Supporters of adding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to Jacksonville’s anti-discrimination laws say they have collected written backing from more than 200 business people, including JAX Chamber Chairwoman-Elect Audrey Moran.

12.14.15: Don’t Discount Jax HRO Referendum Possibility
Though there is no Human Rights Ordinance expansion legislation yet, the possibility of such has been enough for many members of Jacksonville’s City Council, who have been hearing, pro and con, about the positions of people on this issue. This is especially true with the final Community Conversation on the subject looming at 6 p.m Tuesday at Jacksonville University’s Terry Concert Hall. With this in mind, and with the risk-aversion of most on Council in mind, an idea that has been getting traction is the idea of putting HRO expansion up to a popular vote. An HRO referendum.

12.14.15: Roger Gannam, Ken Adkins in Lenny Curry’s Final HRO “Community Conversation”
FloridaPolitics.com has obtained a list of panelists for the third Community Conversation on the Jax Human Rights Ordinance expansion. One of the names is familiar: Roger Gannam, of the Liberty Counsel, who has been a often lonely voice on the first two panels opposing HRO expansion.

12.10.15: African American Jax Pastors Call For HRO Expansion Referendum
A referendum sunk the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance. And a group of 19 African-American Jacksonville pastors, at a Thursday afternoon news conference at the First Timothy Baptist Church on Jacksonville’s Northside, stated their opposition to an expanded Human Rights Ordinance, while saying that any ballot measure on such should be handled by popular referendum…“We cannot and will not support any ordinance driven by sexual orientation,” Newbill said, adding that the Civil Rights Act “covers what needs to be covered.” As well, Newbill added, “whatever comes out needs to be done by referendum.”

12.10.15: Jacksonville pastors call for referendum on HRO
Pastor Fred Newbill of First Timothy Baptist Church, flanked by 18 other pastors, offered a referendum as a solution to settle the ongoing debate in the city on whether or not to expand what is currently on the books.

“We have the federal law that applies to all of us, we have the state law that applies to all of us. Then we have local ordinances,” Newbill said in defense of why Jacksonville should not include sexual orientation.

12.10.15: Audrey Moran Issues Jax Hro “Call To Action”
The stakes are high, for activists on both sides, and will get higher as legislation goes from a theoretical construct to a reality…The battleground of this legislation is not going to be on the lesbian, gay, or bisexual protections; it will be on the transgender population. Those who are opposed will work to frame the action as a “bathroom bill,” and push toward referendum. Proponents, clearly, are going to have to counter those overt appeals to populism.

12.08.15: Guest column: LGBT people in Jacksonville do not need a Human Rights Ordinance
The proposed law would grant the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission enormous coercive power to investigate complaints against real, law-abiding citizens of Jacksonville, subpoena their documents, impose fines and attorneys’ fees, sue them in court and refer their cases to the state attorney for criminal prosecution.

12.07.15: Jacksonville Community Council: HRO Panelist Misrepresented 2009 Discrimination Study
At Thursday’s Jacksonville HRO community forum, Liberty Counsel lawyer Roger Gannam argued against adding LGBT protections to the city’s human rights ordinance, saying they’re just not needed.

“A law like this should be passed in response to a problem,” Gannam said. “Jacksonville does not have a widespread or systematic problem with discrimination against anyone.”

…With a news conference looming on Thursday afternoon, in which anti-expansion pastors expound upon their goals and strategy, it will be interesting to see when and how the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality and the national Human Rights Campaign countermessage the other side.

12.4.15: HRO discussions truck along in divided Jacksonville
Mayor Lenny Curry scheduled the Community Conversations and a bill is expected to be filed with the city council in early 2016. The third and final Community Conversation on the HRO is 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute. That discussion’s focus will be on the legal and business impacts of the proposed HRO.

12.4.15: Jacksonville faith leaders discuss how changing city’s human rights ordinance could affect religious freedom
One major question that could affect churches is whether or not a church would fall under the definition of a public accommodation.

12.4.15: Dr. Albert Mohler Podcast “The Briefing” on Jax HRO Issue
…Now the scene has shifted to Jacksonville and one of the lessons we need to understand in terms of the moral revolution is that those who are pushing it simply come back again and again and again. The strategy is to bring back the issue again and again, to wear down resistance and eventually to gain a political victory by one means or another. There’s also something we need to keep very much in mind here and we can only hope that the political leaders in Jacksonville, Florida have read some recent history, including the headlines.

12.4.15: What HRO Expansion Opponents Tell Jax Mayor Lenny Curry
…there are opponents to the bill, who have been emailing Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry with their thoughts.

12.3.15: Community meeting on LGBT law is more civil Thursday night
With tightened security measures in place, Mayor Lenny Curry convened a second town hall meeting Thursday about whether Jacksonville should add LGBT people to the city’s anti-discrimination law. The 90-minute meeting attracted about 700 people to an Edward Waters College gym for a discussion that focused on “Religious Freedoms, Thoughts and Beliefs.” The crowd heard a four-person panel engage in a back-and-forth debate over what impact expanding the anti-discrimination law would have on religious institutions. Opponents of changing the law said it would erode religious liberties. Supporters said the law would be written in a way to ensure that would not happen.

12.3.15: Human Rights Ordinance polarizing at public forum
Hundreds of people debated Thursday evening whether Jacksonville needs to amend its Human Rights Ordinance to protect members of the LGBT community.

12.3.15: Jacksonville Faith Leaders Come Out In Support Of LGBT Inclusive HRO
Seventy-seven Jacksonville faith leaders have signed a letter in support of an inclusive human rights ordinance.

12.3.15: Jax Coalition For Equality Announces 75 Faith Leaders’ Support For Fully-Inclusive HRO, Including Lenny Curry’s Pastor
Ahead of the Thursday evening Human Rights Ordinance Jacksonville “Community Conversation” on religious issues related to expanding the HRO to the LGBT community, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality held an afternoon presser with some of the 75 faith leaders who support a fully-inclusive HRO. Among those faith leaders in support: Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s own pastor, Bruce Jones of Southside United Methodist Church.

11.30.15: After a Defeat in Houston, the fight for gay rights shifts to Jacksonville
The first major gay rights showdown since Houston’s rancorous vote to repeal its anti-discrimination ordinance is shaping up here in Jacksonville, the largest city in the nation whose leaders have never enacted civil rights protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people…One major difference: In Houston, voters this month rolled back an existing ordinance; in Jacksonville, for now, the issue is before elected officials…Gay rights groups have poured tens of thousands of dollars into an aggressive effort to persuade the City Council to expand its existing Human Rights Ordinance, and to elect candidates who favor doing so.

Nov 2015: The Anti-LGBT Earthquake from Houston
…DC-based Human Rights Campaign (HRC) spent a fortune maintaining its 34-activist army – salaries, housing, travel, expenses. That army is now relocating to Jacksonville and Charlotte to expand those stealth HRC operations which the press won’t report.

As in Jacksonville, some Houston businesses turned against the community, unjustly calling it bigoted, and collaborated in the national LGBT power grab. They were duped by HRC’s preposterous “LGBT laws are good for business” myth. And they fell for the “LGBT civil rights” hoax – in reality a ploy to make government outlaw opposition to LGBT lifestyles.

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