Ronda StormsHillsborough Commission Passes Anti-Gay Censorship Policy
(Tampa, FL) Sparking outrage among human rights organizations, the Hillsborough County Commission voted Wednesday to bar county agencies from recognizing or participating in Gay Pride Month or any events that portray gay people in a positive light. “The commission’s actions today are an attack on gay people, an insult to the entire community and a national embarrassment for our state,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director, who addressed the commission at Wednesday’s meeting. “The Commission is supposed to represent all members of the Hillsborough community. This policy is discriminatory and will not go unchallenged. We are calling on all fair-minded people to stand with us as we fight this censorship and stand up for equality."
The policy introduced by longtime anti-gay antagonist Ronda Storms prevents Hillsborough county agencies from giving equal recognition to local events that present gay people in a positive light, including Gay Pride Month. The commission went even further and voted 6-1 to prevent the new policy from being repealed except by a super majority vote of the commission following a public hearing.
Commissioner Kathy Castor was the only commissioner to speak out against the measure.
"Government should not be in the business of promoting discrimination," said Castor before casting the only vote in opposition.
Equality Florida, June 15, 2005 (press release)
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