- ------------------------------------- _County approves gay rights amendment_ After nearly two years of heated debates that have divided much of Alachua County, commissioners voted late Tuesday night to protect gays, lesbians and bisexuals from discrimination. In a 3-2 decision, commissioners voted to add sexual orientation to the county's anti-discrimination ordinance. The ordinance defines sexual orientation as "the condition of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual, or having a history of such identification." Commissioner Penny Wheat, who cast the final and deciding vote, said she favored the amendment because it would keep employers from asking potential employees about their sexual orientation. "I don't think anyone should have the right to ask something that is so private," Wheat said in a brief statement before voting. But Commissioner Charles Chesnut [the only male and only black on the commission] disagreed with the amendment. He said there is no sure way to determine a person's sexual orientation. "I've got to be good and fair," Chesnut said. "And I've got to get it clear in my mind because I have to go home and sleep with myself tonight." [Chesnut has let it be know that he is very upset that we have portrayed this as a civil right issue. He strongly feels that there is only one true minority -- Afro-Americans.] Commissioners Kate Barnes and Margaret Eppes voted for the ordinance. Commissioner Leveda Brown was the other opposing vote. Those votes, however, did not come before the commissioners listened to more than four hours of public opinion. "Do you want to be remembered as one of the counties that held on to the bitter end, or do you want to say no to hate, the Ku Klux Klan and the American Family Association?" asked Connie Amedei, member of the Gainesville chapter of the National Organization for Women. "Change may be slow and change may be swift, but one thing we do know is change is inevitable." Other people warned commissioners that is they added sexual orientation to the ordinance, the issue would be far from over. "If this amendment is adopted, there's no doubt an official initiative will be launched," said Jim Johnston, president of the Alachua County chapter of the American Family Association. "Then this issue will be put to vote in the next general election in November." John Murphy, Alachua County Kleagle for the Ku Klux Klan, told commissioners that adding sexual orientation would have devastating implications. "Passing the ordinance in this county will act as a beacon to homosexuals all over the U.S.," Murphy said. Almost 200 officers from the Alachua County Sheriff's office and Gainesville police provided security in and around the courthouse. "Everyone handled themselves in a respectable manner," said Alachua County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Emery Gainey. "We came to make sure people who came to express their views were allowed to." After the decision, Eastside Baptist Church minister Jim Keyes said the vote wouldn't really give homosexuals more rights because of its small jurisdiction. "They're no more protected now than they were," Keyes said. "But they'll keep going. They want Gainesville -- they want the nation." Gainesville Area Gays spokesman Timothy Morris said gays and lesbians are relieved, but they know they will have the same struggle against a proposed statewide referendum that would invalidate tonight's decision. "It was a lot of hard work, but we did it," Morris said. "Now, we've got the state referendum to work on. But we'll do it again." If any of you would care to write the commissioners concernie, please do at the following address: Commissioner _________ Alachua County Commission County Administration Building Gainesville, FL 32601 The names of the commissioners and their votes are: Penny Wheat Pro Kate Barnes Pro Margaret Eppes Pro Leveda Brown Con Charles Chesnut Con Note that the opponents are planning a petition to recall Penny Wheat and Kate Barnes so please give them encouraging and positive letters!!