Given the overwhelming support of Amendment 2 and our repressive adoption laws, I would say that it is still more fact than myth. Sure we have isolated pockets of enlightenment, but we also have crusaders like Rhonda “Mad Cow” Storms and her ilk. Thanks to her, Hillsborough County removed any support or recognition of gay pride, even tho the city of Tampa (in Hillsborough) has gay rights protections in place. Don’t let a few victories lull you into complacency.

Since 1995, every Florida city and county that has passed LGBT civil rights laws have either withstood repeal challenges or have never gone to referendum in the first place.

I know this because I worked on the first campaign in which voters UPHELD a gay rights law. That city was West Palm Beach.

In 1994, the city commission passed, 4-1, a law adding “sexual orientation” to its human rights ordinance. Religious conservatives were bused in from out of town to fill the commission chambers to the rafters. When the ordinance passed (after five hours of debate), they vowed to take it to the people.

When it made the ballot, many in the LGBT community thought we would lose and lose big, telling many of us just to give up. But we were ready. We had rallies, fliers, phone banks, and did extensive door-to-door canvassing. The opposition hadn’t seen anything like it.

On election night, we stunned everyone by winning 56% to 44%, with the ordinance retained! We made national news! “How can this happen in Anita Bryant country?” national activists asked. We showed them.

Incidentally, about 13 years later, the same city commission voted unanimously to add transgendered residents to the law. It passed in five minutes. No opposition, no repeal. Palm Beach County later followed suit with its own countywide ordinance.

To be clear, Florida is no progressive paradise. But the idea that we are still “Anita Bryant Country” is a big myth. People are moving on and becoming more accepting. I’m glad to see Gainesville carry on that trend.

I am glad to hear that so many students came out to vote on the issue- it is typically the younger generation that is more GLBT friendly, but they often don’t vote.

Regarding the comment by Mark Minck, who said that his group regretted that “out-of-town money and influence played such a major role in diverting attention away from the real issue of public safety…” I say tough sh#t. This is exactly what the anti-gay groups do all the time. Why should we play fair if you won’t?

Considering that Amendment 2 passed with 60+ percent of the votes, this is certainly a landslide in our favor. Now if only the rest of Florida could walk in the light that is Gainesville.