"Everyone is Welcome Here." Feature - MB magazine

7/28/2019 "Everyone is Welcome Here." Feature - MB magazine

1/5MB magazine | www.miamibeach.gov

This December marks the 60th annivof the Universal Declaration of Human established by the United Nations. M

Beach is proud of its trend as one of theprogressive cities in the world when it to human rights, making the world fhome when they reach its door. In the lasdecades, the City has enacted many lawprotect the rights of all who live, work anin Miami Beach, placing it in the nationainternational spotlight. This attitude of opand warmth has made people from all coof the world flock to Miami Beach.

MIAMI BEACHS DOMESTIC

PARTNERSHIP ORDINANCESOne of the most progressive legisl

adopted by the City is the DomPartnership Ordinance, approved2001. This was the first ordinof its kind in Florida and openeway to provide employment beincluding health benefits, todomestic partners of City of MBeach employees.

These are really impactful meaIt shows that not only ha

leadership of the city been visiand courageous, but our residents

fair-minded and willing to recosignificant non-marital relationship

the purposes of these crucial benefits,Elizabeth Schwartz, a local attorneya member of the Miami Beach CommRelations Board.

In 2004, Miami Beach expanded this legislto include everyone residing in or visiting Beach. This recognizes domestic partnecitywide and provides certain righunmarried couples registered with thethrough the Office of the City Clerk. To302 domestic partnerships have registeredthe City from as far as Illinois and Pennsyand as close as Miami, Coral Gables, Hiaand Homestead. The partnerships includeopposite sex and same-sex couples, inclseniors. The domestic partnership law proregistered couples with the right to visi

partners in a hospital or healthcare facili

MIAMI BEACH IS A LEADER IN HUMAN RIGHTSby Ivette Daz

MIAMI BEACH

EVERYONE IS WELCOME HMB FEAT


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would a spouse, as well as the right to makeecisions regarding a partners healthcarend the education or welfare of a partnersependent. The ordinance also protectsomestic partners from discrimination in theity, among other rights.

AMENDMENT 2There is a concern that both of these and many

ther ordinances enacted by the City will beffected by Amendment 2. Called the Florida

Marriage Protection Amendment, it will bene of the questions Florida voters will answeruring the November 4 General Election.

According to the State of Florida Departmentf Elections, Amendment 2, which is sponsoredy the organization Florida4Marriage.org,ollected the 611,009 signatures it needed to

lace the Amendment on the general electionallot. If approved (with a required 60 percentote of approval), Amendment 2 could changehe State of Florida Constitution to establishanguage that defines a legal marriage to bexclusively between a man and a woman,nd makes any other unions illegal. No otheregal union that is treated as marriage or theubstantial equivalent thereof shall be valid orecognized, the Amendment language states.

However, some say that the proposedAmendment has nothing to do with gaymarriage, and everything to do with takingway benefits from unmarried couples in a

domestic partnership. In July of this year, theCity of Miami Beach Commission approveda resolution to express its oppositionto Amendment 2. During that meeting,Commissioner Richard Steinberg said of theAmendment and of current laws in Florida:Amendment 2 is not about gay marriage,the State of Florida already prohibits gaymarriage. This is about making it so that citiesand other entities are not able to give benefitsto people in same-sex relationships and evennon same-sex. There are a lot of people whotake advantage of the domestic partnershipsbenefits that are not same-sex couples.

The July Resolution was brought to theCity Commission by the newly createdMayors Gay Business Development Ad Hoc

Committee. We oppose (Amendment 2)because it not only affects the gay communitybut anyone in a domestic partnership, saidBabak Movahedi, committee chairman. Thisconstitutional amendment is unnecessary andcan only harm those who wish to care for oneanother in their own ways. You dont have tobe a proponent of same-sex marriage to thinkthis amendment is wrong.

I dont think the people of Miami Beach wantto codify discrimination (for the first time) intoour constitution, added Schwartz.

A CATALYST FOR HUMAN RIGHThere are currently more than 30-plus of legislation in the City that address hrights issues and discrimination on the barace, color, religion, gender, age and sexorientation, to disability issues, and evehuman rights of residents of other couThese laws have made Miami Beabeacon for human rights for all. With dompartnerships and the registry program, and towns from all over Florida andcountry come here to find out what weaccomplished and look to our city to how to be a better city to all its citizens,George Neary, a member of the Mayors Business Development Ad Hoc Committe

HUMAN RIGHTS ORDINANCE OIn 1992, the City adopted the Human R

Ordinance, which banned discriminatiothe city in employment, housing and accommodations on the basis of a persons color, national origin, religion, age, sex, seorientation, handicap, marital status or fastatus. With the passing of this OrdinancCity of Miami Beach became the first muniin the county and one of the first cities at thand national levels, to approve a Human ROrdinance.

Right around the same time, the City creat

Community Relations Board, to monitor rights issues in the community. In addimaking history, the city opened the door tohuman rights legislation. Other laws follow1992, including ordinances specifically dewith discrimination in public accommodbecause of racial, religious and age issOther issues, including disability, transgand international human rights issues havbeen addressed. Examples include a July ordinance to expand the non-discriminlaw providing protections to the transgcommunity.

MB FEATURE

Miami Beach is a fairer and more openplace because of the hard work both thecommissioners and the voters have done toshow the community that we embraceall ofour residents and visitors.Elizabeth Schwartz

SOME OF THE CITYSCURRENT HUMAN RIGHTSLAWS AND RESOLUTIONS:Over the last two decades, the City of MiamiBeach passed approximately 30 pieces of egislation that address human rights. Somexamples through the years include:

1992 The City of Miami Beach became the first City at state/

national level, to approve a Human Rights Ordinance.

Addressed equality of rights relating to race and religionin public accommodations in Miami Beach.

Repealed provisions concerning age discrimination inrental housing.

1997 Urged Miami-Dade County Commissioners to rec

adopting an amendment to the Miami-Dade Human Rights (HR) Ordinance.



ARIEL DIAZEveryone should havregardless of anythiIf someone has a pacompanion, and they life together. The issusomeone chooses to should not be whether treceive benefits or not.

JEAN FRASERKeep what we have nois benefits for a partnyou have a person thaliving with and you areto support each other iways then I think you sbenefits.

FRANKLINREGNAULTI dont agree with bdomestic partnerships.

RICHARD PEKnowing what its we definitely need to k(domestic partnershipin place. I am in a partnership and I woulkeep my rights.

NOELLERODRIGUEZI think that couples, if thtogether- should have theas married couples. I dit hurts anybody. Likedomestic partnership theshould have the same rmarried couple, thats choose to live and everybrespect that.

AMENDMENT 2(MARRIAGEPROTECTION) ON THE NOVEM2008 GENERAL ELECTION BAL

AMENDMENT 2: In as much as marriage iunion of only one man and one woman as wife, no other legal union that is treated as msubstantial equivalent thereof shall be valid o

MB FEATMB FEATWe have taken the added bold step of isallowing the City to do business withny contractor that does not provide similarmportant benefits such as domestic partnerrotections and anti-discrimination policies forts workforce, added Schawartz. It makes aalue statement about who we are as a city andow we prioritize fairness not only internally but

with those enterprises with which we come intoontact. The City has also passed resolutionsddressing human rights in other countries like

Haiti, Cuba, Sudan and Iran.

NFLUENTIAL IN COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTSMiami Beach was also very influential in ensuringhat Miami-Dade County residents would alsonjoy the protections provided by a countywide

Human Rights Ordinance. When the Countyegan exploring the passage of a Human Rights

Ordinance, the City of Miami Beach initiatedmany efforts to ensure that the ordinance would bedopted. Schwartz, like many other local activists,mployees and officials, remember the passing of he Countys human rights ordinance and the rolef Miami Beach in that event. I was on the boardf SAVE-DADE and I recall people at the City,

which had had its Human Rights Ordinance forseveral years at that point, as being instrumentalin providing tools we were able to pass along tothe Miami-Dade County Commission to secure thevotes we needed, she said.

Between 1997 and 2000, the City approved fourseparate resolutions addressing the Miami-DadeCounty Commission to approve the ordinance,which became law in October 1998.

Miami Beach is a fairer and more openplace because of the hard work both thecommissioners and the voters have done toshow the community that we embrace all of our residents and visitors. I think that messagepermeates and it makes people want to live,work and travel here, said Schwartz.

Miami Beach is an exceptional destination andeverybody is welcome because of the diversity of our community, said Michael Aller, Miami Beachsdirector of tourism and convention and chief of protocol. My job is to make everyone feel athome; polish the handle on our front door to saywelcome to the sun and fun capital of the world.

1998 Established domestic partners as immediate family;

granted employment benefits to domestic partners of Cityemployees.

Recognized domestic partnerships; establishedprocedures for official registration of partnerships withMiami Beach.

Supported proposed County HR ordinance; urged CountyCommissioners to adopt the ordinance.

2000 Re-affirmed Miami Beachs support of the County HR

ordinance; urged County Commissioners to stand firmlybehind their resolution.

2001 Called Special Election, asked residents whether t

health coverage for domestic partners of City empordinance approved.

Called Special Election, asked residents whether tfirefighters/police to purchase additional service band designate domestic partners as benefit reciordinance approved.

Defined domestic partnerships; granted health bendependents of City employees domestic partners

HOW DO YOU FEEL AB AMENDMENT 2?


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2002 Strengthened the Citys Human Rights Ordinance by

increasing fines for human rights violations.

Re-affirmed Miami Beachs support of the County HRordinance; urged County Commissioners to stand firmlybehind it.

2004 Expanded the Citys Human Rights Ordinance to grant

protections/rights to the transgender community in MiamiBeach.

Added certain rights/benefits in Miami Beach toregistered domestic partners.

2005 Addressed the donation of sick/annual leave for cla

City employees/their dependents, including dopartners of City employees and their dependents.

Este diciembre se celebra el sexagsimo

aniversario de la Declaracin Universal de los Derechos Humanos, establecida por lasNaciones Unidas. El mundo estar celebrando el Mes de los Derechos Humanos Universalesy Miami Beach continuar con su tendenciacomo una de las ciudades ms progresistasdel mundo en lo concerniente a los derechoshumanos y a hacer que el mundo se sienta ensu casa cuando llegue a nuestra puerta.

En las dos ltimas dcadas la Ciudad ha promulgado muchas leyes para

proteger los derechos de todos losque viven, trabajan y se diviertenen Miami Beach, convirtindose enel blanco de las miradas nacionalese internacionales. Esta actitud de apertura y calor humano ha hecho que mucha gente de todos los rincones

del mundo venga a Miami Beach.

ORDENANZAS SOBRE PAREJAS DE

HECHO EN MIAMI BEACH

Una de las legislaciones ms progresistasadoptadas por la Ciudad es la Ordenanzasobre Parejas de Hecho (Domestic Partnership Ordinance), aprobada en julio de 2001. Fue laprimera ordenanza de su gnero en la Floriday abri el camino para brindar beneficios de empleo, incluyendo beneficios de salud, paralas parejas de hecho de los empleados de laCiudad de Miami Beach.Estas son medidas realmente impactantes. Esto muestra no slo que el liderazgo de la Ciudad ha sido visionario y valiente, sino tambin que

nuestros residentes son justos y estn dispuestosa reconocer significativas relaciones no

maritales para el propsito de estos

beneficios, dijo Elizabeth Schwartzlocal e integrante de la Junta de RComunitarias de Miami Beach.

En 2004, Miami Beach ampli esta para incluir a todas las personas quen Miami Beach o que la visiten. Esa las parejas de hecho en la Ciudad ciertos derechos a las parejas no registradas en la Ciudad a travOficina del Secretario de la Ciudala fecha se han registrado 302 pahecho en la Ciudad, provenientes dtan distantes como Illinois y Pennsycercanos como Miami, Coral Gabley Homestead. La pareja de hecho ina parejas de sexo opuesto como dsexo, incluyendo a adultos mayorsobre parejas de hecho confiere a laregistradas el derecho a visitar a su un hospital o un centro de cuidados dcomo lo hara un cnyuge, as como a tomar decisiones con respecto a lamdica del compaero o compaeeducacin o el bienestar de sus depeLa ordenanza tambin protege a las phecho contra la discriminacin en lentre otros derechos.

ENMIENDA 2

Tanto esta como muchas otras opromulgadas por la Ciudad estamenazadas por la Enmienda 2. Dela Enmienda de Proteccin del MatriFlorida, ser una de las cuestiones que

de la Florida respondern durante lGeneral el 4 de noviembre. El Dep

TODOS SON BIENVENIDOS AQUI MIAMI BEACH, LDER DE DERECHOS HUMAN



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2006 & 2007 Several ordinances/resolutions addressed employee

benefits, granted benefits to dependents of Cityemployees, including domestic partners.

Prohibited investment of public funds (managed by theCity) in companies doing business with Sudan/Iran dueto human rights issues in those countries.

2008 Supported Cuban American Veterans Associations

request to investigate Cuban governments action in killingof Brothers To The Rescue search/rescue mission membersin 1996.

Urged President Bush to grant temporary protective statusto Haitians in the United States.

Mayors Gay Business Development Ad Hoc Courged the Commission to adopt resolution and/oropposing Amendment 2/Floridas Marriage Protectio

Mayors Gay Business Development Ad Hoc Courged the Commission to include the Citys HumaOrdinance as part of Miami-Dades Consumer Straining for taxi drivers, to prevent harassment olesbian individuals using cab services.

de Elecciones del Estado de la Florida handicado que la Enmienda 2, patrocinada por a organizacin Florida4Mariage.org, reuni as 611,009 firmas necesarias para incluir a Enmienda en el plebiscito de las Elecciones

Generales. De ser aprobada (se requiere un 60 or ciento de los votos), la Enmienda 2 podra

ambiar la Constitucin del Estado de la Floridaara establecer un lenguaje que defina unmatrimonio legal como un nexo exclusivamente ntre un hombre y una mujer, haciendo que ualquier otra forma de unin sea ilegal.Ninguna otra unin legal que sea tratada como

matrimonio o el equivalente sustancial del mismo er vlida ni reconocida, establece el lenguaje

de la Enmienda.

Sin embargo, algunos afirman que la Enmiendaropuesta no tiene nada que ver con los

matrimonios entre homosexuales, y s conrrebatar los beneficios a parejas no casadasy unidas como pareja de hecho. En julio de ste ao, la Comisin de la Ciudad de Miami

Beach aprob una resolucin para expresar u oposicin a la Enmienda 2. Durante esaeunin, el Comisionado Richard Steinberg dijo o siguiente sobre la enmienda y las actualeseyes de la Florida: La Enmienda 2 no es sobre l matrimonio entre homosexuales, pues el

Estado de la Florida ya prohbe el matrimonio ntre homosexuales. Tiene que ver con que lasiudades y otras entidades no puedan darle eneficios a parejas de personas de un mismo exo, e incluso a las de diferente sexo. Hay

muchas personas que aprovechan los beneficiosde las parejas de hecho, siendo parejas de diferente sexo.La resolucin de julio fue presentada a laComisin de la Ciudad por el recin creado Comit Ad Hoc de la Alcaldeza para el Desarrollo de Negocios de Homosexuales.Nos oponemos a la (Enmienda 2) porque

CONTINUADO EN LAPAGINA 47

The rainbow flag, displayed atbusinesses throughout the city and atthe beach on 12 Street, is a symbolof gay pride and its use is permittedin the city.

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"Everyone is Welcome Here." Feature - MB magazine