Resolution 2019-30822 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30822
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING
BRUNEI'S NEW CRIMINAL LAWS PUNISHING SAME-SEX
SEXUAL ACTS WITH DEATH BY STONING, AND URGING THE
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO AVOID TAKING
VACATIONS IN BRUNEI AND LODGING AT THE HOTELS
OWNED BY BRUNEI'S SULTAN, HASSANAL BOLKIAH.
WHEREAS, on April 3, 2019, Brunei, a small country on the Southeast Asian island of
Borneo ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (the "Sultan"), effectuated new criminal laws, which
would punish those found guilty of same-sex sexual acts and adultery by stoning the offenders to
death; and
WHEREAS, Brunei's new law, imposing the death penalty upon anyone found guilty of
engaging in same-sex sexual acts and adultery have triggered an outcry from multiple countries,
human rights groups, and celebrities alike; and
WHEREAS, on April 2, 2019, the United States joined the United Kingdom, Germany and
France in urging Brunei to halt its plans, stating that Brunei's new penal code runs counter to the
country's international human rights obligations; and
WHEREAS, celebrities including George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Elton John, Billie
Jean King, and Ellen DeGeneres have also voiced opposition to the new laws, and have rallied a
boycott of the nine hotels in the U.S. and Europe with ties to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, including:
Hotel Bel Air in Los Angeles; USA, Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills; USA, the Dorchester in
London, England; 45 Park Lane in London, England; Coworth Park in Ascot, England; Le Maurice
in Paris, France; Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris, France; Hotel Eden in Rome, Italy; and Hotel
Principe di Savoia in Milano, Italy; and
WHEREAS, a number of companies, organizations, and travel agencies, including, but
not limited to the Deutsche Bank, the Financial Times, TV Choice Magazine, STA Travel, and
Transport for London have also joined the boycott of the nine hotels owned by the Sultan, as well
as terminating travel and vacation services to Brunei; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission abhor violence, criminalization and
discrimination targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons in Brunei, and
strongly oppose Brunei's recently enacted laws punishing individuals engaged in same-sex
sexual acts with death by stoning; and
WHEREAS, boycotts are a powerful means to apply pressure onto companies or
individuals to correct their misdeeds, as well as encourage banks, financiers and institutions that
do business with them to withdraw their financial and public support; and
WHEREAS, as such, the Mayor and City Commission urge residents of the City of Miami
Beach to take a stand against Brunei's inhumane, cruel laws, criminalizing same-sex sexual acts,
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by boycotting the nine luxury hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei, and avoid taking vacations to
Brunei.
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 condemn Brunei's criminal laws punishing same-sex sexual acts with death
by stoning, and urge the residents of the City of Miami Beach to avoid vacationing in Brunei and
lodging at the hotels owned by Brunei's Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of May, 2019.
ATTEST:
/ Dan Gelber, Mayor
/ 4 ; r// i '1
Rafael E. Granado, ity Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora) '•
'
*.
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
&FOR EXECUTION
City Attorney• Date
2 ��,
Resolutions -C7 0
MIAMI BEA H
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: May 8, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING BRUNEI'S NEW CRIMINAL
LAWS PUNISHING SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTS WITH DEATH BY STONING,
AND URGING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO AVOID
TAKING VACATIONS IN BRUNEI AND LODGING AT THE HOTELS OWNED
BY BRUNEI'S SULTAN, HASSANAL BOLKIAH.
RECOMMENDATION
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Gongora, the above-referenced Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the May 8, 2019 Commission
meeting.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Gongora/Co-Sponsored Commissioner Micky Steinberg
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Commission Memo Re Urge Residents to Condemn Brunei's Anti LGBT Law
❑ Reso Re Urge Residents to Condemn Brunei's Anti LGBT Law
Page 366 of 1102
A '1\ 1 Al ! " ' � ll
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
RAUL AGUILA,CITY ATTORNEY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR DAN GELBER
MEMBERS OF THE CITY COMMISSION
JIMMY L. MORALES, CITY MANAGER 1
0VFROM: RAUL J. AGUILA, CITY ATTORNEY 12._14)
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2019
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING BRUNEI'S NEW CRIMINAL
LAWS PUNISHING SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTS WITH DEATH BY
STONING, AND URGING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO
AVOID TAKING VACATIONS IN BRUNEI AND LODGING AT THE HOTELS
OWNED BY BRUNEI'S SULTAN, HASSANAL BOLKIAH.
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Gongora, the attached Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the May 8, 2019 City
Commission meeting.
RA/FA/sp
Page 367 of 1102
Cardillo, Lilia
From: Granado, Rafael
Sent: Wednesday, May 15,2019 12:01 PM
To: Granado, Rafael
Cc: Cardillo, Lilia
Subject: URGING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO AVOID TAKING VACATIONS IN
BRUNEI AND LODGING AT THE HOTELS OWNED BY BRUNEI'S SULTAN, HASSANAL
BOLKIAH.
' O Memo to file:
The below item i -Cs.�7 O-fN THE May 8 ,2019 Commission meeting:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,
CONDEMNING BRUNEI'S NEW CRIMINAL LAWS PUNISHING SAME-SEX SEXUAL ACTS WITH DEATH
BY STONING, AND URGING THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH RESIDENTS TO AVOID TAKING VACATIONS IN
BRUNEI AND LODGING AT THE HOTELS OWNED BY BRUNEI'S SULTAN, HASSANAL,BOLKIAH.
Office of the City Attorney
Commissioner Michael Gongora/Co-Sponsored Commissioner Micky Steinberg
ACTION: Resolution 2019-30822 adopted. Office of the City Attorney to handle.
During after-action of May 15, 2019, Tonya Daniels and I asked Jimmy Morales if the Administration (via
Communications)would be doing a campaign urging the.City of Miami Beach residetns to avoid taking
vacations in Brunei and Lodging at Hotels owned by Burnei's Sultan.
City Manager Morales responded that the City Administration has not ever taken any such action in the past;
and no additional action needed to be taken.
Item to be left as is.
M1AMIBEACH
Rafael E. Granado, Esq., City Clerk
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami/Beach, FL 33139
Tel: 305.673.7411 rafaelgranado(a�miamibeachfl.gov
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical,
historic community.