FLORIDA: Miami-Dade County Approves Broad Transgender Rights Ordinance

After contentious and ugly public meetings, the Miami-Dade County Commission last night approved a broad transgender rights ordinance by an 8-3 vote. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed:

Critics came in droves, packing seats at Miami-Dade County Hall and waiting for hours to testify against the ordinance. More than 130 signed up to speak. Pastors, parents, teens, and seniors expressed particular concern that the measure would grant sexual predators a carte blanche to prowl women’s bathrooms. “There are cases of the deviants who will take advantage of this,” said Commissioner Esteban Bovo, who represents suburban Miami. He would only support the ordinance if it carved out an exception so it did not apply to transgender people using public bathrooms. “We have to be mindful of a segment of the population, who is probably a majority, who is very concerned with this issue,” he said. “It is a concern for the safety of their family.” But in the end, a majority of the commission rejected a bathroom amendment and sided with supporters of the ordinance, who characterized the measure as a basic civil right.

A spokesman for Mayor Carlos Gimenez said, "He is 100% supportive. The mayor will not veto - it will become law."

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