A fear based campaign targeting the rights of the LGBT community was defeated by 58% in Gainseville.  The victory signifies the first affirming resolution since the passage of Amendment 2 in November.

Gainsville, FL (March 25, 2009) - After having their civil rights threatened for over a year, Gainesville's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community triumphed alongside their allies Tuesday as voters shot down Charter Amendment 1, sending a resounding message throughout the state and the Florida Legislature:  Floridians support equal rights for all people!
Over 20,000 voters flocked to the polls Tuesday, rejecting the discriminatory amendment by a landslide vote of 58% to 42%.

Over a year has passed since the far right first took arms against LGBT rights, waging a mean-spirited, fear-mongering campaign that sought to terminate Gainesville's anti-discrimination laws that protected its gay and transgender citizens in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations. Despicably, the opposition targeted the city's approximately 100 transgender individuals as scapegoats to fuel their crusade with lies and scare tactics. But their malicious attempts did not fool the majority, speaking volumes on the progressive spirit of the citizens of Gainesville.

Equality is Gainesville's Business retaliated against the opposition's campaign, launching a statewide movement that called on the support of LGBT and allied organizations throughout Florida. SAVE Dade took initiative starting in January 2009 in partnership with UM for Equality to coordinate phone banks every week aimed to educate likely voters in Gainesville on the harmful effects of the proposed charter amendment.

Setting Precedents

If Charter Amendment 1 had passed, all rights and protections for groups not recognized by The Florida Civil Rights Act - which does not include "sexual orientation" or "gender identity" in its language - would be repealed. It would have become legal to be fired, denied housing, or refused dining services, among other acts of discrimination, simply because you are gay or transgender. What is more, the passing of Charter Amendment 1 would have banned the city of Gainesville from adopting or enforcing further provisions to its anti-discrimination laws. Any future changes to these laws would need to have been enacted by the Florida Legislature, tying Gainesville's hands from protecting its own citizens. Had the amendment passed, it would have given the green light to other right wing groups in municipalities throughout Florida to attempt their own oppressive crusade against LGBT rights.

But Gainesville proved Tuesday that it continues to shine as an example to the rest of Florida as a welcoming, progressive city. Gainesville's citizens showed state officials that voices in the fight for equality cannot and will not be silenced, despite the dehumanizing attacks by the far right.  The majority of Floridians reject discrimination, and equality for all will eventually be achieved in Florida.

SAVE Dade Joins State-Wide Efforts
 
SAVE Dade conducted 20 phone banks, and provided support and cell phones to UM for Equality. Combined, these phone banks involved about 175 volunteers making calls over three months, which produced thousands of dials to likely Gainesville voters and resulted in over in 437 volunteer hours contributed to the campaign.  Last night 11,717 Gainesville voters turned out to vote against the discriminatory charter amendment (8,375 voted for it).  These phone banks here in Miami yielded about 1,750 conversations with individual voters about the Gainesville Amendment, making a significant contribution towards yesterday's victory.

SAVE Dade is elated to have been part of this joyous page in Gainesville's history, and congratulates its valiant citizens and those who have helped to make this step toward equality possible, including:

ACLU of Florida, Equality Florida, Human Rights Campaign, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, National Center for Transgender Equality, Lambda Legal, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Organizations United Together (O.U.T.), UM (University of Miami) for Equality, North Palm Beach County NOW, Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus, Hillsborough County GLBTA Democratic Caucus, Dolphin Democrats and Phi Epsilon Mu Chapter of Tri Ess, Florida Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, Florida NOW, Gainesville Area NOW, Judy Levy NOW PAC, Alachua County Democratic Party, Alachua County Green Party, Alachua County/Gainesville League of Women Voters, Alachua County NAACP, Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce, Gainesville Area AIDS Project (GAAP), Gainesville Commission on the Status of Women, Human Rights Council of North Central Florida, Interweave, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, North Central Florida Central Labor Council, Pride Center of North Central Florida, SAVE Dade, Social Justice Council of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, Trinity Metropolitan Community Church, UM for Equality, United Church of Gainesville Social Concerns Committee, University of Florida Students for Change, Students for a Democratic Society @ UF, Wild Iris Books and Wild Words Café, University of Florida Faculty Senate, University of Florida Presidential LGBT Concerns, and University of Florida Student Senate.