St. Augustine looks to add LGBT protection | News

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- A change might be coming to add "sexual orientation" to St. Augustine's Fair Housing Act. The move would prohibit discrimination based on gender preference.

City Commissioners voted Monday night to ask the City Attorney to add the phrase.

Commissioner Bill Leary says this is just the first step. The proposed Fair Housing Act would have to go through the ordinance process like any other bill.

The Commission vote 4-0 to ask the City Attorney to change the Act. Leary said that's a pretty good indication this is something they want to consider as an ordinance change.

"I voted in favor of this step. I certainly see no reason why we should discriminate based on sexual orientation as with every issue that comes before, I want to hear what the citizens have to say," he said.

The ordinance could be approved in the next 30 to 45 days in St. Augustine.

Commissioner Leary couldn't say whether the proposal was in reaction to the Jacksonville City Council rejecting a similar bill earlier this month.