Florida’s Employment Discrimination

As one who used to work for the state of Florida Department of Children and Families, I can attest to the fact that homophobia runs rampant amongst the ranks of those who are employed by the state.   After being fired for being gay in 2003 (yes that’s legal in the state of Florida) I vowed that I would never again put myself into the position of possible getting fired for being gay.  After learning how the state of Florida was, I quit.

I’m feel certain that my situation is not an isolated incident.  I could only imagine that if there are (and I’m sure there are) other LGBT persons employed by the state of Florida, they too feel the need to stay in the closet, something that I am not willing to do, and  fortunately for me, I was able to move on with relative ease.

Now however, there’s a case of discrimination which unlike others, is starting to gain attention.  I am hoping this story gains national attention and I could only hope the state of Florida is forced, whether on its own accord, or through a law suit, will change the laws to protect LGBT citizens from employment discrimination.

Some of the more progressive cities and counties in Florida (although few and far between) have local ordinances against such discrimination, but in realistic terms, state law trumps local and county-wide ordinances, so even if someone faces employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation, the fight, if they choose to wage one, would most certainly be an uphill battle.

Such as in the case of one state attorney in Florida’s capital of Tallahassee.

According to a post on Tallahassee.com:

Lisa Comingore, an assistant attorney general for the state of Florida, knows what it’s like to be forced out of a job over sexual orientation.

Comingore, 39, took a job as a staff attorney with a state agency Nov. 1, 2006, and by the following February, she’d put in her notice. She’d been told that if she didn’t, she’d be fired.

The reason why, she says, had nothing to do with job performance — a supervisor wanted her out because she’s a lesbian. Comingore, a Tallahassee resident who was recovering from breast cancer at the time, decided to leave on her own. She knew if she were fired, she’d have a hard time landing another state job and keeping her health insurance.

“It just felt extremely unfair,” Comingore said. “Just being discriminated against and having no recourse — it’s very demoralizing.”

I completely understand exactly how demoralizing it is.  It’s time Florida…Let’s put this fire out!