By Fred Jackson and Jody Brown
December 3, 2002

(AgapePress) - Christians have lost a battle in Orlando, Florida, to keep the city from granting special rights to homosexuals.

Church groups and other conservatives have been lobbying hard against the Orlando proposal for several months. It adds the words "sexual orientation" to the city's human-rights ordinance. Still, it passed by a 4-3 vote Monday night. Those opposing included Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood.

"I have not changed my opinion on what I feel is right for this community," Hood told The Orlando Sentinel. The mayor says she has not seen convincing evidence of discrimination in Orlando.

But the sponsor of the measure, council member Daisy Lynum, denies the vote is an affirmation of a sexual lifestyle. "It is against people who harm others because of their sexual lifestyle," she said.

The new law, which takes effect January 1 and applies only within the city limits, prohibits employers from denying jobs and promotions on the basis of sexual orientation. In addition, landlords of buildings with more than four apartments will now be forced to accept homosexual tenants. Churches, religious organizations, private clubs, and businesses with fewer than six employees are exempt from the law.

The Sentinel reports several hundred people showed up at last night's council meeting to speak to the proposal. Conservatives warned that in passing the proposal, it will now open the door to other pro-homosexual legislation as well as promotion of homosexuality in public schools.

The newspaper notes that Mayor Hood could veto the law, thereby keeping it off the books unless five council members agreed to overturn her veto. But Hood, who has never vetoed a council action during her ten-year tenure as mayor, stated after the meeting she would let the vote stand.

Orlando is home to several major vacation attractions for families, including Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios. According to The Sentinel, opponents of the legislation predicted the city's reputation as "the king of family vacations" will be replaced by one on par with those of Sodom and Gomorrah.

© 2002 AgapePress all rights reserved.

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