State lawmakers are pushing to enshrine civil rights protections in state law for the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender community.
Sen. Darryl Rouson’s (D-St. Petersburg) bill prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing and public accommodation.
“This is not just a moral issue, it’s an economic issue,” Rouson says. “It’s not just an economic issue, it is the civil rights issue of the day.”
The measure’s backers believe they have the votes to pass the bill if they can get it on the agenda. But they’re likely facing an uphill battle—for a number of years similar bills have died in committee.
