Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean rewrote the city's Transgender Day of Remembrance proclamation scheduled to be read tonight and changed the declaration into "Crime Victrims Week."
Bean offered two versions of a rewritten proclamation to Fernandina Beach Pride, which rejected both. Bean has told Pride he will not read the Transgender Day of Remembrance proclaamation as originally written.
One version of Bean's draft proclamation omits the word transgender and proclaims "Crime Victims Week." The other version is identical except for proclaiming the week "Transgender Day of Remembrance."
Pride President Jordan Morris said of Bean's drafts "The mayor's draft proclamation eviscerated the intent and meaning of Transgender Day of Remembrance. The draft language was more about anti-violence in general. There was not one mention of violence against transgender people and I was very concerned with that. The draft was unacceptable and I told the mayor this isn't going to work."
Morris has asked Commissioner Chip Ross to read the published Transgender Day of Remembrance proclamation as originally written.
"If I have the authority and am so asked I will read the proclamation. All five commissioners represent all of the people of Fernandina Beach," Ross said.
Bean would not comment on the matter.
It was unclear under city commission procedures if the proclamation will be presented as written. Ross will have to have the consensus of his fellow commissioners that the proclamation be read as intended.
Here is Bean's "Crime Victims Week" draft:
WHEREAS, all communities should be welcoming and inclusive yet each year millions of people fall victim to acts of violence, theft, fraud, and other hate crimes based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity; and
WHEREAS, beyond the physical, psychological, and emotional scars, victims often suffer long term pain and trauma as well as loss of income and medical bills; and
WHEREAS, because everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, today we recommit to the work of preventing crimes, supporting victims as they heal, and holding offenders accountable; and
WHEREAS, today we reaffirm that the City of Fenandina Beach strives to protect all persons who have been, are being, or might be deprived of equal rights and/or fair treatment because of their gender expression or identity; and
WHEREAS, thankfully hate crimes in Fernandina Beach are rare and our first responders are trained and equipped to provide compassionate care which ensures victims are treated with dignity, feel heard, are valued, and supported.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Bradley M. Bean, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
the City of Fernandina Beach, Florida, do hereby proclaim the week of November 19 through November
2023:
“CRIME VICTIMS’ WEEK"
and remind all that we are created equal and have certain unalienable rights which include life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and cause the Official Seal of the City of
Fernandina Beach, Florida, to be affixed this 7 th day of November 2023.