With the Tampa City Council set to take a final vote tomorrow on expanding its human rights ordinance to protect "gender identity and expression," opponents of the move are sending a barrage of e-mails to council members. Council member Mary Mulhern has received more than 1,891 e-mails blasting the measure since the board preliminarily approved the new language on Nov. 5, according to Mulhern's aide. She has received only 354 in support of the change. Other council members have received a similar number of e-mails. Council member Joseph Caetano, though, has received fewer than 500 e-mails. Caetano initially cast the lone vote against the expanded protections, but later changed his vote.

Many of the e-mails are coming from outside the city and even Hillsborough County, with a handful coming from other states. And many are form e-mails distributed by David Caton, executive director of the Florida Family Association, to his supporters. The vote is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

Janet Zink, Times Staff Writer

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