10 www.ExpressGayNews.com • January 28th, 2002

www.savedade.org

Miami-Dade County celebrated the 25th

anniversary of the Dade County HumanRights Ordinance on January 18 in a publicforum featuring local political figures andthe original heroes who fought for equalrights by originally passing the ordinancein 1977.

Alex Penelas, Mayor of Miami-DadeCounty, hosted the event at the Miami-Dade County Commission Chambers. Alsopresent were representatives from othermajor cities throughout Miami-DadeCounty who each declared the date HumanRights Ordinance Day in their cities.Among the cities swearing in the new daywere the cities of Miami, Miami Beach,Miami Springs, South Miami, Hialeah,North Bay Village and North Miami Beach.

“Today celebrates 25 years of one of thedefining moments for Dade County and oneof the most important civil rights struggles ofour time,” said Penelas in his address to theassembly. “Honoring the event is a clearindication that this is a progressive city and atolerant city. I am grateful that the people inthis city do not tolerate discrimination andsupport human rights.”

Following his speech, Penelas unveileda mural designed by artist Xavier Cortada.The mural, titled “All Are Equal But SomeAre More Equal Than Others,” depicts theriotous events surrounding the ordinanceand its appeal by anti-gay activists. It willbe hung in the lobby of Miami-Dade’s

County Hall.Former County

Commissioner Ruth Shack, theoriginal author of the ordinance,and Professor Bruce J. Winick ofthe University of Miami Schoolof Law, who was the legalstrategist for the ordinance, wereindividually honored and spokeon a panel about theirexperiences following theceremony. Also on the panel wereFlorida Atlantic UniversityProfessor Fred Fejes, who isworking on a book about theordinance and its significance,and Jorge Mursuli, the formerExecutive Director of SAVE Dade.

Fejes pointed out that the issue wasrepealed because “the issue itself was toonew for voters to understand.” He alsosaid that the fight put the issue of gayrights into the national consciousness.“While Stonewall started it , whathappened in Miami made it a nationalissue,” Fejes said.

Shack, who is now President of theDade Community Foundation, which hasdistributed $62 million to area non-profitorganizations, said, “I was not doinganything symbolic. I believed that whatwe were doing simply something thatshould be done. This is not a game ofpolitics. This is real life. I am not a hero,

By Ian Drew

but someone who did what I was in publicoffice to do.”

She also publicly blamed gubernatorialcandidate and gay activist Bob Kunst forallowing the ordinance to be overturned.“He was a thorn in the side of rightthinking people,” she said. “Nobody couldcontrol Kunst.”

The forum was held in order toacknowledge the people who wereinstrumental in the historic event and toeducate the public about its significance.The 1977 ordinance was put into law tomake discrimination on the basis of sexualorientation illegal. It was overturned inJune of that year due to a now-infamouscampaign led by Florida orange juice

United We StandMiami-Dade County Celebrates 25th

Anniversary of Human Rights Ordinance

<< DADE NEWS

spokeswoman Anita Bryant.In 1998, a new human rights ordinance,

which protects gays and lesbians fromdiscrimination in housing and employmentin Miami-Dade, passed in a 7-6 vote.

On September 10, voters will againdecide if they support the currentamendment. A group called Take BackMiami-Dade has organized anotherreferendum against the existing ordinance.

“I have faith the community will standbehind it this time,” says Penelas. “Thereare unfortunately still people who feel theyhave the right to judge others. We willprotect all of our people against anyonewho seeks to deny someone else theirhuman and constitutional rights.”

Xavier Cortada’s newmural commemoratingthe 25th Anniversary ofMiami’s Human RightsOrdinance is unveiled