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Res No 060-21-15680RESOLUTION NO.060-21-15680 A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commissioners of the City of South, Miami adding Tom Cunningham's picture to the wall of "Firsts" in the Commission Chambers. WHEREAS, in 1994, Tom Cunningham was elected to the City of South Miami Commission; and WHEREAS, in 1996, Tom Cunningham was elected Mayor of the City of South Miami; and WHEREAS, Tom Cunningham was the first openly gay City of South Miami Commissioner and Mayor; and WHEREAS, Mayor and City Commissioners of the City wish to recognize Mr. Cunningham by adding a picture of Tom Cunningham to the wall of "Firsts" in the Commission Chambers. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and confirmed as being true and correct and are hereby made a specific part of this resolution upon adoption hereof. Section 2. The City of South Miami Commission hereby authorizes the addition of a picture of Tom Cunningham to the wall of "Firsts" in the Commission Chambers. Section 3. The subtitle of Tom Cunningham's picture on the wall of "Firsts" will be: "First openly gay City of South Miami Commissioner and Mayor." Section 4. Corrections. Conforming language or technical scrivener -type corrections may be made by the City Attorney for any conforming amendments to be incorporated into the final resolution for signature. Section 5. Severability. If any section clause, sentence, or phrase of this resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the holding will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. Section 6. Effective Date. This resolution will become effective immediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of June, 2021. Res. No. 060-21-15680 ATTEST: C�` ERK READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM, XUR TTORNEY REOF TRW, APPROVED: MAY §-0 COMMISSION VOTE: Mayor Philips: Yea Yea Commissioner Gil: Yea Commissioner Harris: Yea Commissioner Liebman: Yea Commissioner Corey: Page 2 of 2 Agenda Item No:1. City Commission Agenda Item Report Meeting Date: June 1, 2021 Submitted by: Thomas Pepe Submitting Department: City Attorney Item Type: Resolution Agenda Section: Subject: A Resolution of the Mayor and City Commissioners of the City of South Miami adding Tom Cunningham's picture to the wall of "Firsts" in the Commission Chambers. 3/5 (Mayor Philips) Suggested Action: Attachments: Reso_re_Tom_Cunningham_Portrait= _rev.doc Tom Cunningham - Sun Sentinel.pdf Res No 157-96-9911.pdf Res No 8-70-2647.pdf 5/2612021 WIN SPOTLIGHTS GAYS IN ELECTED OFFICE - Sun Sentinel WIN SPOTLIGHTS GAYS IN ELECTED OFFICE By CIL kRLES STROUSE Miami Bureau Chief SUN -SE VTINEL FEBRUARY 19, 1996 1 SOUTH MIAMI - Anonymous whispers sizzled through the city. "Tom Cunningham is a pedophile." "He's turning tricks at City Hall." Then, the truth: "The candidate's gay." In this upscale, tree -lined town of to,000, Cunningham was elected last week as Florida's only openly homosexual mayor. He is one of just seven nationwide, according to the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in Washington, D.C. "Their strategy of gay -bashing backfired," said Cunningham, a Vietnam veteran and former Mr. Gay Alabama. "People here are conservative, but they look at what people can do, not who they sleep with." Cunningham's election, with 57 percent of the vote, returned the national gay rights spotlight to South Florida. It first focused here in 1977 when singer Anita Bryant's "Save Our Children" crusade torpedoed an anti- discrimination ordinance. Activists, who have seen the nation's number of openly gay elected officials double in the last five years - from 50 to Toy - hailed the victory as a sign of growing tolerance. But some conservatives questioned whether Cunningham really told voters enough about his sexual orientation. And they asked whether having a gay man in such a prominent job sends the wrong message to youngsters. "Do we need to encourage people to have same -sex relations?" asked David Caton, leader of a Tampa group that has fought to restrict gay rights across the state. "What people do in the privacy of their own bedroom is their business, but being this public doesn't make sense morally." Cunningham's election is part of a growing national trend of gay politicians going public with their sexual orientation. Since two openly lesbian women were elected in Michigan and Massachusetts in 1974, numbers have steadily inched up. Tn the mirl-1nRnc the mnxrPmPnt rprpivp/l n hnnct. 11— turn U.S. representatives from Massachusetts, Barney Support Quality Journalism START NOW) 5 r;cribe for only 99c httpsJAv .sun-sentinel.mm/news/fl-xpm-1996-02-19-9602190019-story.html 1/3 4 5/26/2021 WIN SPOTLIGHTS GAYS IN ELECTED OFFICE - Sun Sentinel Frank ran into problems in 1990 when the House reprimanded him for using his influence to help a male prostitute. Studds plans to retire this year, as does the only other openly gay member of Congress, Wisconsin Republican Steve Gunderson. In Florida, openly gay Richard Heyman was elected as mayor of Key West in 1983. He served on and off until 1987. Heyman was a reluctant symbol, though, preferring to point to his achievements in backing a sewage treatment plant and city charter. He died of AIDS in 1994• Last year, for the first time, a group of about 50 openly gay and lesbian officials made history when they visited the White House. That visit became controversial when Secret Service officials, fearful of AIDS, donned rubber gloves to conduct routine security searches of the group. President Clinton later sent personal apologies to delegation members, at least one of whom was from Broward County. That member, a city commissioner, didn't want to be identified. Up for election soon, he said he felt his opponent would use his sexuality against him. "It's not easy for an openly gay candidate," said Kathleen DeBold, deputy director of the Victory Fund, which has raised $1.2 million for gay candidates since 1991. "He or she has to run two races, one against his or her opponent and the other against a stereotype. Tom Cunningham's election in South Miami shows voters aren't buying the rhetoric anymore." Cunningham, a 51-year-old flower shop owner, is a modest man who wears tailored suits and a tiny earring in his left ear. He sports a red ribbon on his lapel to symbolize the fight against AIDS. The youngest of eight children, Cunningham was born in an Alabama town of 800. He married just before heading off to serve with combat troops in Vietnam in 1970, but began dating men after the marriage ended. He won a competition as Mr. Gay Alabama in 1978. Several years later, Cunningham moved to Dade. After a lover died of AIDS, Cunningham became chairman of the board of Cure Aids Now, one of the region's largest groups to help AIDS victims. Two years ago, Cunningham ran for a seat on the South Miami City Commission. The small city, which neighbors Coral Gables, elected him with 61 percent of the vote. "He openly stated that he's gay, but I just think it's his business," said Frank Miller, a 74-year-old Republican real estate broker. "I wouldn't want someone who flaunted it, but if the man is intelligent and a good administrator, so be it." In the years that followed, Cunningham helped downtown South Miami to boom. And, after a girl was raped, he helped form a safety patrol. He hasn't pushed for an ordinance, similar to those in Palm Beach County, Broward Support Quality Journalism START l: C 'A' �_:bscribe for rely �)Q-r- https://www.sun-senbnel.com/news/fl-xpm-1 996-02-19-9602190019-story.html 2/3 5 5/26/2021 WIN SPOTLIGHTS GAYS IN ELECTED OFFICE - Sun Sentinel Cunningham's recent campaign included little information on his sexual orientation, although he says most people in town know it. The closest he came to publicizing his status was a mailing that included information on his position with Cure Aids Now, he says. "We don't spend any taxpayers' money on gay causes, and we don't help fund AIDS work," Cunningham said. "People elected me to do the best job possible for everyone." Other gay officials praised Cunningham for his openness and the deft way he has dealt with the issue. Chris Wilson, a 36-year-old commissioner in Oakland Park, has served since 1993. Like Cunningham, Wilson said being gay is rarely relevant to his work as a commissioner. One time, Wilson said, he tried to help a license applicant who said he had encountered homophobia at City Hall. Wilson said his homosexuality, and the unfair treatment he has received because of it, helps him understand the underdog. "I have been called names on the street, so for any issue that comes up, I try to be sure it is fair to all segments of the population," Wilson said. Wilson said he is honest about his sexual orientation, but he doesn't advertise it. "You don't have to put a flag out in front of your house," he said. "There is no need to give the religious right any ammun ition. The real question is who is the best person for the job." To Caton, the conservative activist, the question of openness is key. Gay public officials are likely to give more time and attention to gay -related issues, he said. "Being gay becomes an issue when you want to influence others," he said. "Naturally, they will give more time to defending their interests." Victoria Sigler, a Dade County judge who is a lesbian and swore in Cunningham this week, denied that gay or lesbian officials necessarily try to influence others. But she agreed with Caton that going public is not a bad idea. "If you have secrets when you step into the public arena, you are susceptible to pressure," said Sigler, who was elected last year. "I'd rather be honest." Copyright © 2021, Sun Sentinel This article is related to: Elections, HIV - AIDS Support Gluaiity Journalism START NOW) Sul- scribe for only 99e https://www.sun-sentinel-wm/newslfl-xpm-1996-02-19-9602190019-story.html 313 6 RESOLUTION NO. 157-96-9911 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, RELATING TO THE DISPLAYING OF APPROPRIATE PICTURES AT CITY HALL, BY AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 8-70-2647, PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, throughout the years of the existence of the City of South Miami, Florida, a number of public spirited and dedicated individuals have served the City as Mayor and/or Commissioner; and WHEREAS, 26 years ago on February 3, 1970 by Resolution No. 8-70-2647 a policy was established in order to memorialize permanently the good citizenship of those who have served as Mayors, and in addition, any Commission member with 20 years of service, that appropriate photographs or paintings of all such persons who have completed their service to the City be displayed in the City Hall and the Commission Chambers; and WHEREAS, the diversity of the South Miami Community is such that it is incumbent upon the Commission to acknowledge those trailblazing individuals of ethnic origin who have given freely of their time and efforts to further the public welfare by proudly serving as Mayor or Commission member of the City of South Miami. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. That Resolution No. 8-70-2647 is hereby amended to include that photograph or painting of any Mayor and first elected officials of ethnic origin to serve on the City Commission be permanently displayed in the City Hall or City Commission Chambers. Section 2: That Resolution No. 8-70-2647 is further amended to change "Councilman" to "Commission member." Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon approval. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 3rd day of CPntamhar , 1996. ATTEST: CITY CLERK READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY APPROVED: OR COMMISSION VOTE": 5-0 Mayor Cunningham: Yea Vice Mayor Robains: Yea Commissioner Price: Yea Commissioner Bethel: Yea Commissioner Young: Yea 7 RESOLUTION NO. 8=70-2647 RESOLUTION HONORING PAST MAYORS AND ANY COUNCILMAN WITH 20 YEARS SERVICE IN THE CITY OF SOUTH'MIAMI, FLORIDA, BY AUTHORIZING THE DISPLAYING OF APPROPRIATE PICTURES*IN THE CITY HALL, THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OR COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM. WHEREAS, -throughout the. years of the existence of the City of South Miami, Florida, a number of public spirited and dedicated residents and citizens have served the City as Mayor and Councilman, and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Mayor and City Council to recognize officially and honor those who have rendered public service as Mayors and Councilmen of the City and to establish'a policy of recognizing and honoring those who serve hereafter as Mayor and Councilman; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. That they, for themselves and for the residents and citizens of the City do hereby honor those public spirited citizens who have heretofore given freely of their time and efforts to further the public welfare by serving as Mayors and Councilmen of the City of South Miami, Florida. Section 2. That they do hereby establish as a policy of the City that in order to memorialize permanently the good citizenship of those who have served as Mayors, and in addition, any Councilmen with 20 years service, that appropriate photographs or paintings 'of all such persons who have completed their service to the City as Mayor and Councilman, be -displayed in the City Hall, the Council Chambers or Council Conference Roam no sooner than February 10, 1970. 8 Section 3. That the City Clerk be and hereby is authorized to obtain appropriate pictures of former Mayors to accomplish the purpose of this Resolution. PASSED and ADOPTED this 3rd day of February, 1970. APPROVED: ,�� Mayor ATTESTS / -City- Clerk - 2 - RESOLUTION NO. 8-70-2647 9