(Tallahassee, Florida) Conservative Republicans and right wing Christian groups in Florida have found a new way of attacking gay rights laws passed by local municipalities: Tack on amendments to bills before the legislature to override the local ordinances.
The first attempt at sneaking through such an amendment came as a House committee was examining an otherwise benign civil rights bill.
The civil rights bill which had broad bipartisan support, came up Thursday night and was expected to easily pass the committee dominated by conservative Republicans. And, it might have worked, except for the eagle eye of Rep. Bob Henriquez, a Tampa Democrat.
''Let's talk frankly here ... This amendment deals with sexual orientation. It's a controversial issue, and it doesn't belong in this forum, and it doesn't belong in this bill,' Hernriquez said.
That prompted other Democrats to take a closer look at the carefully worded amendment that had been proposed by Rep. Dennis Baxley (R Ocala).
Baxley and other conservative Republicans tiptoed around the implications of the proposal. When it became clear that the amendment would undo gay rights ordinances in Miami-Dade and Broward counties the amendment was voted down.
Sitting in the front row of the gallery was Rosa Armesto de González, the attorney for Take Back Miami-Dade, the coalition of religious and political activists who sought to appeal a Miami-Dade ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Voters in the county voted to retain the civil rights protections, but Baxley's bill would have overturned the vote.
Later, Baxley said the measure was backed by Take Back Miami-Dade, the Christian Coalition and other Christian conservative groups.
Baxley said the gay rights laws in several Florida cities and counties were ''good examples'' of unfair protections for ''niche groups,'' adding that comparable groups would be adulterers and people who fornicate.
''Any kind of moral departure from Biblical standard is wrong to me,'' he said. ``I want fairness, and I don't think there should be special rights for behavioral groups.''
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