Commissioner Les Miller: 'It is Time to Repeal This Ugly Ordinance'

An extended standing ovation accompanied by hoots and hollers followed today's unanimous vote by Hillsborough County commissioners to repeal a ban on gay pride events in Hillsborough County.

The decision followed a lengthy debate by commissioners and a slew of public comment from residents on both sides of the issue. 

Last month, Commissioner Kevin Beckner, who is gay, proposed repealing a 2005 ordinance banning gay pride and related events, calling the ordinance "discrimination at the most fundamental level."

Wednesday's discussion on Beckner's proposal brought out both gay rights supporters as well as Christian conservatives asking the commission to uphold the ordinance.

Among them was the Rev. Patty Sodmont, director of Kingdom Communities in Riverview, who argued that this shouldn't even be a topic of discussion by the commission in light of weightier social issues facing Hillsborough County. 

"Sex is a private bedroom issue," she said. "Every step away from our biblical foundation has been a step backward. It's time that we rethink what we spend our money and time on."

Bianca Perez also used the Bible to justify the need to keep the ordinance. 

"As a Christian, mother and resident of Hillsborough County, I do not want tax dollars to be used to promote a lifestyle that's clearly wrong. The Bible clearly says homosexuality is wrong," she said.

Beckner responded by holding up his own copy of the Bible. 

"Yes, I'm a gay man, but I grew up as a Christian," he said. "This book has been used to guide my spiritual life; it is part of the reason I'm serving today. But it's being used to disparage and promote hatred. Is this why Jesus Christ died on the cross? He didn't die for some of us; He died for ALL who believe."

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Commissioner Les Miller added his own impassioned plea to repeal the ordinance. As a black man, he said he understands the bigotry facing the gay community.

"I was born in 1951 and had to get food from a restaurant through a pigeonhole window (because blacks weren't permitted to eat inside the restaurant) and drank out of separate water foundations marked 'white' and 'color.' I've been called the 'N' word when I was in my U.S. Air Force uniform during the Vietnam era," said Miller.

"Hatred is hatred, bigotry is bigotry, and discrimation is discrimation, and it is painful," continued Miller. "The Ku Klux Klan quoted the Bible as they burned crosses and hung people. It is time to repeal this ugly ordinance that hangs over the head of this county."

Commissioner Mark Sharpe served on the county commission in 2005 when it voted to ban gay pride events.

Choking up several times, Sharpe said he now regrets his vote.

"I teach my kids that when you make a mistake, you correct it yourself," said Sharpe. "I said we didn’t have any business promoting a lifestyle but I never wanted to be part of any group who would single out others. I wanted to live in a community where, as neighbors, we could love and respect each other. I believe when we singled out a group, we made a mistake, and I’m glad I’m here today to correct that mistake. I’m supporting the motion to repeal the vote that took place in 2005."

While he agreed the ordinance was ill-advised and should be repealed, Commissioner Victor Crist was concerned about the possibility of gay pride participants parading around wearing "pasties and g-strings." 

"That's not necessarily appropriate for Hillsborough County although it may be appropriate for Key West," he said. "I do not want obscene, pornographic and prurient displays by our government."

He proposed an amendment that the county abstain from sponsoring or promoting any event that can be interpreted as "obscene or pornographic or prurient in nature or display sexual content in a manner that would be offensive to any reasonable resident" and that the county not fund, budget or appropriate funds for events that promote any particular lifestyle.

Crist's amendment, however, failed to draw a majority vote.

Nevertheless, Commission Chairman Ken Hagan emphasized that repealing the ordinance does not mean the county will fund or promote gay-sponsored events. 

"The proposal simply removes a barrier and allows us to consider gay-sponsored events," he said. 

The commission's vote was lauded by members of the gay community including Richard Kerin, treasurer of the Gaybor District Coalition, who noted that travel by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community is an $85 billion industry in the U.S.

The St. Pete Pride festival and parade netted $10.8 million for Pinellas County, he said. 

"This policy prevented all of this income from coming to Hillsborough County," he said.

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