"Gay Rights" Quietly Put on Ballot

(Miami, Florida) Gay rights advocates are trying to keep this issue quiet. An informed electorate is apparently the adversary of gay-rights supporters.

Miami voters are being asked Jan. 29 to approve a "Citizens' Bill of Rights'' that would, among other things, promote religious freedom, clean air and scenic beauty.

It would also ban discrimination on the basis of domestic relationship status, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression -- though relatively few people are aware of it.

The proposed city charter change hasn't drawn much attention. The actual ballot wording never mentions gay or transgender rights. On Monday, even some leading gay and Christian activists didn't know anything about it.

Heddy Pena, leader of SAVE, Miami's largest gay-rights group, said that gays are trying to avoid making the issue political because then "you have a fight on your hands." It's thought that a ballot entry described as "Citizens' Bill of Rights" without reference to homosexuality will adequately camouflage the gay-rights provisions of the measure.

According to Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, sponsor of the legislation,

"It would bring a modern approach to people's rights in the city of Miami, including sexual preference and gender identification as classifications that are rights that will be upheld in the city of Miami."

Members of SAVE helped craft the wording in the proposed ordinance. Once passed, it's expected that transgender protections will be added to the ordinance.

Notably, this isn't the first time that a special interest group in Florida has used sneaky means to get controversial measures passed by the voters. Some may recall that after a mendacious petition drive, the Florida Constitution was amended to protect pregnant pigs.