2017-29720 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2017-29720
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REAFFIRMING THE
CITY'S POLICIES OF NONDISCRIMINATION AND INCLUSION,.
CREATING A SAFE SPACE PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES
AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY TO
DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND
EQUAL TREATMENT OF MEMBERS OF. THE LESBIAN, GAY,
BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND QUESTIONING
("LGBTQ") COMMUNITY, AND DIRECTING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT OUTREACH EFFORTS TO
PROMOTE THE SAFE SPACE PROGRAM.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach ("City") has a compelling interest in protecting its
most vulnerable communities, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, and questioning ("LGBTQ") population; and
WHEREAS, according to an analysis of data collected by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, "[e]ven before the shooting rampage at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people were already the most likely targets of hate crimes in
America" (New York Times, June 16, 2016); and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach's Human Rights Ordinance declares that "there is
no greater danger to the health, morals, safety and welfare of the city and its inhabitants than
the existence of prejudice against one another and antagonistic to each other because of actual
or perceived differences of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, intersexuality, gender
identity, sexual orientation, marital and familial status, age, disability, ancestry, height, weight,
domestic partner status, labor organization membership, familial situation, or political affiliation";
and
WHEREAS, as stated in the Human Rights Ordinance, "prejudice, intolerance, bigotry
and discrimination and disorder occasioned thereby threaten the rights and proper privileges of
its inhabitants and menace the very institutions, foundations and bedrock of a free, democratic
society"; and
WHEREAS, the City's Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination in employment,
public accommodations, housing, and public services, on the basis of actual or perceived race,
color, national origin, religion, sex, intersexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital and
familial status, age, disability, ancestry, height, weight, domestic partner status, labor
organization membership, familial situation, or political affiliation; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of these policies, the Mayor and City Commission now desire
to launch a Safe Space program for businesses and other organizations in Miami Beach to
demonstrate their commitment to the safety and equal treatment of members of the LGBTQ
community ("Safe Space Program"); and
WHEREAS, the goals of the Safe Space Program are to provide members of the
LGBTQ community with easily accessible safety information and safe places throughout Miami
Beach that they can turn to if they are the victims of harassment or crime; and
WHEREAS, a business or organization desiring to designate itself as a Space Space
may register with the City's Police Department and obtain Safe Space decals to post as a
symbol of safety;.and
WHEREAS, in order to register as a Safe Space, a business or other organization must
agree to the following terms:
• post the Safe Space decal outside the front entrance of the
establishment;
• allow victims of LGBTQ-based harassment or crime to enter
and remain at the establishment until the police arrive;
• immediately call or assist LGBTQ victims in calling 911; and
WHEREAS, any individual who seeks solace in a Safe Space location can be assured
that if they are the victim of a crime, police will be called immediately.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby reaffirm the City's policies of nondiscrimination and inclusion, create a Safe
Space Program for businesses and other organizations in the City to demonstrate their
commitment to the safety and equal treatment of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and questioning ("LGBTQ") community, and direct the Police Department to
conduct outreach efforts to promote the Safe Space Program.
PASSED and ADOPTED this /1 day of JAan4I 017.
.//
ATTEST: / /,
/4 M-. :r P .;e°vine
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Rafael E. Gran 11241
o, City Clerk.41 $
� `,� �� APPROVED AS TO
(Sponsored by Commissio= A�ch'ael i-a•�. FORM & LANGUAGE
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Resolutions - R7 F
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: January 11, 2017
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, REAFFIRMING THE CITY'S POLICIES OF
NONDISCRIMINATION AND INCLUSION, CREATING A SAFE SPACE PROGRAM
FOR BUSINESSES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE CITY TO
DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND EQUAL
TREATMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
TRANSGENDER, QUEER, AND QUESTIONING ("LGBTQ") COMMUNITY, AND
DIRECTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT OUTREACH EFFORTS
TO PROMOTE THE SAFE SPACE PROGRAM.
RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Grieco, the attached Resolution creating an
LGBTQ Safe Space Program is submitted for-consideration by the Mayor and City Commission.
Legislative Tracking
• Police Department/Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Grieco
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ LGBTQ Safe Space Reso
503