Two former Jacksonville mayors and ten city council presidents rallied together at City Hall today in support of the bill that would change the city's Human Rights Ordinance.

They all spoke in support of the ordinance which is against discrimination in hiring, housing, and public accommodations such as restaurants and hotels.

Among the prominent people were former Mayor John Peyton, former Mayor John Delaney, and Councilman Warren Jones who sponsors bill number 2012-296.

"You're allowed to have your religious beliefs. Religious institutions are completely exempted,” John Delaney said.  “But Jesus once famously said, 'Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.' And all this bill is saying is ‘don't cast stones.’ You can believe what you want, just don't cast the stones."

Council member Warren Jones said it’s easy to find reasons to be against the bill, just as people were against bringing the Jaguars to Jacksonville when it was first proposed.

“It really boils down to a simple issue of fairness, equality and non-discrimination,” Jones said.

Those who oppose the bill say it goes against religious beliefs and we don’t need a law to do what the ordinance says.  They also say it could be bad for business in Jacksonville.

Former City Council president Bill Basford says he can relate to the bill because he is close friends with a lesbian woman.

"Why in the hell can't we be an open society? Why can't we just be fair to people? Why can't we all realize we've had to work hard to get where we are, and that other person has that same opportunity," said Basford.

Bill 2012-296 would add just six words to the list on the Human Rights Ordinance:  “sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.”  Those words would be added to the list with the goal of protecting people in Jacksonville from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.

Former Mayor John Peyton said that the city’s laws need an update.

“Jacksonville, from my experience, is a very diversified and progressive city, and our laws should reflect that,” said Peyton.

“You don’t have to change your spiritual beliefs whatsoever,” said former Mayor John Delaney.  “I’m not changing mine.  But as a community we need to make this statement.”

Council president Stephen Joost said the council will actually vote on the ordinance in the next coming weeks.  He predicted about two.