Sue Carlton: Duking it out in the name of diversity
If you are forming a panel to empower minorities, should a racist get a seat at the table? Does tolerance mean tolerating bigots — who are, by definition, intolerant? And does Terry Kemple — conservative Christian activist and Hillsborough School Board candidate who speaks out against gay rights — belong on a board that's supposed to be about diversity?
Kevin Beckner, the openly gay commissioner who proposed the panel, put it this way:
"Why would you want to serve on a board you don't believe should be in existence?"
Which led to one fired-up discussion between Beckner and
Victor Crist, who with three other Republicans voted for Kemple.
Commissioner Les Miller voted to table it indefinitely!
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