FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14 2016
Contact: Evin Willman 904-655-7085
Contact: Meredith Johnson 904-322-9233
JACKSONVILLE, FL — A wall painted earlier this week with a message supporting the transgender community and passage of an updated Jacksonville Human Rights Ordinance was defaced overnight, demonstrating, once again, that many in Jacksonville are hostile toward the LGBT community in general and transgender people, in particular.
Steve Williams, owner of property, the former Petersen’s Five & Dime, apparently saw film from a security camera showing a construction worker spray painting and vandalizing the wall. The worker has been terminated.
Said Williams, “Anyone who is incapable of respecting ALL humans is NOT welcome on my property.”
Those states passing laws opposed to equality for the LGBT community, as well as those opposed to a fully-inclusive HRO in Jacksonville have cited many erroneous pieces of information concerning bathrooms and other public accommodations.
“What happened here last night is a prime example of why the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality needs your support to expand Jacksonville’s Human Rights Ordinance to provide its residents with equal protection under the law,” said Dan Merkan, Chair of the JCE.
Media Matters, a progressive watchdog organization, recently issued thoroughly researched information concerning LGBT rights and bathrooms. You can also view it online at http://mediamatters.org/research/2016/01/12/florida-experts-debunk-the-transgender-bathroom/207916.
For more information or to set up an interview with JCE members or others involved in this incident, contact:
Media contacts:
Evin Willman
(904) 655-7085
or
Meredith O’Malley Johnson
(904) 322-9233
www.jaxequality.org • https://www.facebook.com/jaxequality • @JaxEquality
