Resolution 2019-30837 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30837
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED
STATES SENATE TO APPROVE SENATE BILL S. 788,
ALSO KNOWN AS "THE EQUALITY ACT," WHICH WILL
SERVE TO EXTEND FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIONS TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND
TRANSGENDER ("LGBT") AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING
THEM WITH EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW.
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 differences of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, intersexuality,
gender identity, sexual orientation, marital and familial status, age, or disability"; 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, in view of the foregoing principles, the City's Human Rights Ordinance
prohibits discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, and public
services, on the basis 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, and
political affiliation; and
WHEREAS, however, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT")
Americans continue to lack basic legal protections in states across the country; and
WHEREAS, our nation's civil rights laws protect people on the basis of race, color,
national origin, and in most cases, sex, disability, and religion but do not provide
consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity;
and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2019, the United States House of Representatives,
passed a bill H.R. 5, entitled the "Equality Act," which would extend federal anti-
discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans; and
WHEREAS, specifically, the Equality Act would prohibit discrimination based on
sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, employment, credit, and federally
funded programs, among other areas; and
WHEREAS, the United States Senate version of H.R. 5, Senate Bill S. 788, also
entitled the "Equality Act" and identical in substance, was introduced to the Senate on
March 13, 2019 but no action has been taken beyond referring the bill to the Senate
Judiciary Committee; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach urges the United States Senate to vote on
and approve the Equality Act, as passage of the act will provide a uniform standard of
protection nationwide that will ensure that LGBT Americans are no longer treated as
second-class citizens.
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 urge the United States Senate to approve Senate Bill S. 788, also
known as the "Equality Act," which will serve to extend federal anti-discrimination
protections to lesbian, gay, and transgender ("LGBT") Americans, by providing them with
equal protection under the law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 22nd day of May, 2019.
ATTEST: -
Dan Gelber, Mayor
3iblici
Rafael E. Granado, City Clerk
(Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora)
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APPROVED AS TO
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City Attorney Date
Agenda Item R7 13
Date 5--.22-1?
MIAMIBEACH
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
FROM: RAUL J. AGUILA, CITY ATTORN .�� (f'
DATE: MAY 20, 2019
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI
BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO APPROVE
SENATE BILL S. 788, ALSO KNOWN AS "THE EQUALITY ACT," WHICH
WILL SERVE TO EXTEND FEDERAL ANTI-DISCRIMINATION
PROTECTIONS TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER
("LGBT") AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EQUAL
PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW.
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Gongora, the attached Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the May 22, 2019 City
Commission meeting.
RA/FA/ps
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
May 28, 2019
The Honorable Mike R. Pence
President of the Senate
U.S. Capital Building, S-212
Washington, DC 20510
Dear The Honorable Pence,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2019-30837:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA,
URGING THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO APPROVE SENATE BILL S. 788, ALSO
KNOWN AS "THE EQUALITY ACT," WHICH WILL SERVE TO EXTEND FEDERAL ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION PROTECTIONS TO LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER
("LGBT") AMERICANS, BY PROVIDING THEM WITH EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE
LAW. (Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora & Co-Sponsored by the remainder of the
City Commission)
This Resolution was unani •• ly passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of
the City of Miami Beac •n M.,y 22, 2019.
Re :-ctfully,
Rafe . anad•
C y Clerk
c: Commission:r Michael Gongora
Mayor and C ty Commission