``We do not want a repeat of the boycott in Colorado,'' said Dermer, referring to the 1992 call by singer-actress Barbra Streisand for a boycott of that state when Colorado Springs approved a ballot initiative that banned laws that protected gay men and lesbians from discrimination.
``Our city has always been at the forefront of gay and lesbian rights advocacy in the country,'' Dermer said. ``We would hate to see Miami Beach tainted with a broad brush.''
Dermer and Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas have shown their support for the amendment by attending several events, including last Friday's Human Rights Day observation and an unsuccessful sit-down late last year with Take Back Miami-Dade leaders, who fought to get the question on the ballot.
A compromise between the two mayors and the coalition of religious, political and civic members fighting the ordinance, who called the mayors ``merchants of death,'' was not to be. Voters will go to the polls in September.
Neither Miami Beach nor the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau keeps statistics detailing how many gay men and lesbians visit the city each year or how much they spend.
But Miami Beach has long been viewed as a gay-friendly haven for residents and tourists, and would be crippled economically and culturally if the ordinance were repealed, said business owner Joe Pallant.
Pallant, who operates South Beach Villas, a guesthouse for gay tourists, said if Ft. Lauderdale estimated its earnings from gay tourism to be some $570 million a year, then Miami and Miami Beach's income from gay tourism ``would be far greater than $570 million.''
``The economic fallout from any sort of boycott would be millions,'' Pallant said.
City commissioners are unanimous in their support.
``We've always embraced gays and lesbians and we have had no reason not to,'' said Commissioner Matti Bower.
``It's really unfortunate that this is even a topic for discussion in this day and age,'' Bower said.
Anyone seeking more proof of Miami Beach's stance on the issue, said Pallant and others, need look no further than the overwhelming support residents showed when they voted last November to have the city extend domestic partner benefits -- including health insurance and pension -- to partners of unmarried city employees, gay or straight.
Voters in November gave the green light, with 65.7 percent of the 13,024 who cast ballots approving, for the city to extend health-care benefits to the domestic partners of its employees.
Michael Aller, the city's tourism and convention director, estimates 10 percent of the city's 90,000 residents are gay.
``We are human beings who have a right to live, work and play just like anybody else,'' he said.
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