Earlier this morning, Hillsborough County commissioners voted with a 7-0 unanimous vote to repeal an eight-year long ban on recognizing gay pride at various institutions within the county, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The ban became effective back in a 2005 when Hillsborough commissioners, led by Ronda Storms, voted 5-to-1 in a measure that stated the county would not not support, promote or participate in gay pride events.  Former commissioner Kathy Castor was the only one to oppose the ban at the time.

Since then, the ban has severely impacted the county's reputation not only throughout the local LGBT community and its supporters, but nationwide, according to county commissioner Kevin Beckner.

Beckner played a pivotal role in this morning's decision as he's not only the county’s first openly gay commissioner, but the main impetus for putting the repeal of this archaic, discriminatory policy on the table.

The overturning of the the ban required a supermajority, meaning Beckner would need yes votes from a majority of the commissioners plus an additional, basically a minimum of five out of seven votes, to make it official.

The board voted unanimously 7-0 with current commissioners Mark Sharpe and Ken Hagan reversing their 2005 votes, the Journal reports.

As for the ban's creator, Rhonda Storms?  She lost an election for County Property Appraiser last year.  We try to maintain some semblance of objectivity here, but good riddance.

Welcome to a that much more equal and accepting 813area, everyone.