Published: Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, August 2, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
Michelle Ott is a 31-year Gainesville resident married for 23 years with two children.

QuoteYou may have signed a petition related to "keeping men out of women's bathrooms."

As a mother of two children who were born and raised in Gainesville, I agree that keeping our restrooms safe is good public policy, which is why the petition drive was framed that way. But that argument masked the true target of the petition drive and the charter amendment it proposes.

The true target is to remove civil rights protections based on sexual orientation that have been Gainesville law since 1998, as well as gender identity that was added in 2008. That charter amendment is plainly and simply anti-gay and anti-transgender.

If you signed the petition and would like to revoke your signature so it will not count toward the required 5,581 petitions needed to get the charter amendment proposal on the city ballot, go the Supervisor of Elections Office immediately.

Michelle Ott: Not too late to revoke your signature.

Gainesville.com
8/3/2008

You may have signed a petition related to "keeping men out of women's
bathrooms."

As a mother of two children who were born and raised in Gainesville, I
agree that keeping our restrooms safe is good public policy, which is
why the petition drive was framed that way. But that argument masked
the true target of the petition drive and the charter amendment it
proposes.

The true target is to remove civil rights protections based on sexual
orientation that have been Gainesville law since 1998, as well as
gender identity that was added in 2008. That charter amendment is
plainly and simply anti-gay and anti-transgender.

I just noticed this-- Karen, do you have any special relationship with Gainesville, or did you randomly come across this? 

I've met Michelle a couple times & she continues to be part of our struggle to keep gender-identity included in our anti-discrimination ordinance.   

Thanks for posting...it's nice that I'm not the only one keeping an eye on my city!