By Mark Schlueb
Sentinel Staff Writer

April 17, 2002

Gay rights clashed with religious freedom Tuesday night at Orlando City Hall, where several hundred people came to support or denounce the idea of protecting homosexuals from discrimination.

The standing-room-only crowd of about 300 -- the largest to attend a City Hall meeting in more than a year -- remained mostly cordial.

Still, the two factions in attendance were in sharp disagreement about whether the city should add "sexual orientation" to a list of classes protected from discrimination in the workplace, housing and public accommodations.

The city's Human Relations Board, an advisory committee that rarely enters the public spotlight, called the hearing to gather comments on the proposal.

If adopted, it would prevent employers from firing or denying promotions because of sexual orientation, landowners from refusing to rent or sell property because of sexual orientation, and public places such as bars and hotels from refusing service because of sexual orientation.

For some, like resident Carl Johnson, the law is an obvious necessity.

Johnson said he'd been given a glowing performance evaluation and a pay raise. But less than a month later, his boss asked a co-worker whom Johnson would be bringing to a company party.

According to Johnson, his co-worker's answer sealed his fate: "I assume he's bringing his partner." Johnson was soon fired without explanation.

Though he now works for another company that has a policy of non-discrimination against gays, Johnson said he worries about his financial security were he to switch jobs.

"I could be judged not for my job performance, but for my personal life," he said.

Many speakers repeated stories similar to Johnson's.

An attorney said he left the law firm where he once worked after he was told he would never advance, regardless of the quality of his work. An Apopka man said a real estate broker turned away him and his partner because they're gay.

But to other speakers, including the Rev. Jim Perry, the proposal is an insult to the Christian faith.

Perry was one of the first members of the Human Relations Board, and he helped adopt in 1973 the current city ordinance that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, age, national origin, marital status and disability. Adding "sexual orientation" to the list would be legalizing sin, Perry said.

"There is a large Christian community in this city and this county. Orlando has always been a community with a reverence to God. . . . I don't want us to cross a line and bring his anger," Perry said.

Several conservative groups spoke against the proposal, including the Orange County Christian Coalition, the Florida Family Association and the Liberty Counsel.

Though the existing city ordinance exempts churches, religious organizations and private clubs, David Meyers, a Pentecostal minister and Liberty Counsel attorney, said it would trample religious freedom.

"It will promote discrimination because you are forcing people to hire those whose views they don't agree with," Meyers said.

The Liberty Counsel promised a court challenge if a Christian ever runs afoul of the ordinance because of his or her religious beliefs.

Other opponents said the proposal would cost taxpayers money because the city would have to investigate baseless complaints.

The Human Relations Board is not expected to make a recommendation until at least next month. That recommendation will be passed to the City Council, which must hold another public hearing before taking action.

Mark Schlueb can be reached at mschlueb@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5417.