ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY JOINED: AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, GREATER NAPLES BRANCH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN, MARCO ISLAND BRANCH AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF FLORIDA (ACLU) BETHEL AME CHURCH BLACK AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD OF COLLIER COUNTY COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS CORNERSTONE METHODIST CHURCH DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF COLLIER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF COLLIER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC WOMEN'S FORUM EMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH EQUALITY FLORIDA GAY SOCIAL NETWORK OF SW FLORIDA (GSN) HADASSAH OF COLLIER COUNTY HAITIAN AMERICAN CORPORATION INTERNATIONAL CARRIBBEAN ASSOCIATION OF NAPLES ISLAND COAST AIDS NETWORK (ICAN) JEWISH CONGREGATION OF MARCO ISLAND JEWISH FEDERATION OF COLLIER COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COLLIER COUNTY METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NAPLES (MCC Naples) NAPLES JEWISH CENTER NAPLES UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (NAACP) NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, NAPLES/MARCO NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN, FT. MYERS/NAPLES (NOW) PFLAG NAPLES CHAPTER PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF COLLIER COUNTY TECH OF COLLIER COUNTY (SUNRISE GROUP) TEMPLE SHALOM UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF GREATER NAPLES |
Post Office Box 351, Naples, FL 34106 |
Background In February 2003, Collier County Commissioners adopted a resolution opposing discrimination against all citizens. The resolution provides for a Community Relations Information and Referral Service. Complaints received by county staff are forwarded to the appropriate state or federal agency outside Collier County for processing. Protect Our Citizens Collier County is growing, progressive and diverse - it should be a leader in protecting all of its citizens from discrimination. A local human rights ordinance will protect and safeguard the rights of all persons who live, work and visit Collier County to be free from discrimination. It will ensure that all persons in Collier County have equal access to employment, housing, public accommodations and education. The ordinance will protect the equal rights and opportunities of the people of Collier County through creation of a Human Relations Council that will serve as a public forum for discussion, addressing citizen complaints, making recommendations, and educating on matters affecting human relations and civil rights issues. Why does Collier County need to replace its resolution with a human rights ordinance? The resolution falls far short of protecting Collier County residents and visitors in a number of ways: The resolution has neither investigative nor enforcement powers. The distance and slow response of state and federal agencies limit their relevance in cases of discrimination that need rapid attention. The state does not have the resources to investigate and resolve all complaints effectively and in a reasonable time frame. Out of town investigators may not relate as well to local issues. Supporting the Collier County Non-Discrimination Coalition's Human Rights Ordinance does not mean endorsing the enumerated groups; it does mean the prohibition of discrimination. The Collier County Non-Discrimination Coalition has developed a Human Rights Ordinance that will protect its citizens and visitors from discrimination and provide a way to investigate and adjudicate complaints. The proposed Human Rights Ordinance eliminates problems created by the county's resolution while providing real solutions for residents and visitors who have discrimination complaints. Changes handled by the local council are likely to be resolved without litigation, eliminating the need for either party to hire attorneys. Businesses against whom discrimination allegations are made usually prefer local human rights ordinances because monetary awards are typically lower under local ordinances than under state and federal law. A growing economy requires an inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance to provide the optimum environment to attract employers, employees and tourists to Collier County. The Collier County Non-Discrimination Coalition - a real solution for a real problem. Many organizations have joined together to form the Collier County Non-Discrimination Coalition. Our Mission Statement reads: "The Coalition will work to promote the passage and implementation of a nondiscrimination ordinance in Collier County that will include age, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, familial status, veterans status, marital status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation and physical characteristic as enumerated categories. The ordinance will provide for investigation, enforcement and community education relating to its provisions." To achieve this mission we have developed an ordinance to present to Collier County. We are seeking support from community organizations and friends who share our vision of equality and non-discrimination for ALL the citizens of Collier County. We hope you will join the growing list of supporters. |
Introduction & Our Mission Statement |
24 Hour Voice-Mail Line (239) 436-7999 |
If you experienced DISCRIMINATION call (239) 436-7999 Si usted ha sido victima de DISCRIMINATION, llame al (239) 436-7999 Si-w sibi DISKRIMINASYON rele nan (239) 436-7999 |
