As the Jacksonville City Council considers extending discrimination protections to the LGBT community, a massive crowd of supporters and opponents packed City Hall beyond capacity on Tuesday to speak at a public hearing on the issue.

While the council didn’t vote or discuss the legislation at the meeting, over a thousand people came to voice their position in what was the largest showing for a council meeting in recent memory.

Local organizations on both sides rallied their supporters to attend in hopes that a strong showing could perhaps sway council members on the issue that has been debated in Jacksonville for years.

First Baptist Church Pastor Mac Brunson sent an email to parishioners urging them to tell the council "that Christians don’t support" the legislation. On the other side, the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, a leading advocacy group for the protections, also mobilized their followers.

The result: a crowd large enough to fill the council chambers and overflow rooms, prompting officials to limit entry to City Hall on a one in, one out basis. Those stopped at the door either waited outside or went to the nearby Main Library downtown to watch the meeting on a live video feed.

The number of speakers for each side was not available by press time. The meeting was expected to last until as late as midnight.

The legislation, which is referred to as the Human Rights Ordinance or HRO, would extend the city’s anti-discrimination law to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It contains provisions that exempt religious organizations or businesses with fewer than 15 employees.

The council considered similar legislation last year before its sponsor, Councilman Tommy Hazouri, withdrew the bill before it could be voted on. The council also considered similar legislation in 2012.

Jacksonville remains one of the last major cities without discrimination protections for LGBT people, and supporters of the law say it’s past time for the protections to be extended to all residents. Supporters include leaders of the city’s top businesses, who say Jacksonville will struggle to attract major companies without these discrimination protections.

"The ones who should be protected the most are instead made out to be monsters. Expanding the HRO will not relieve the fear they experience every day, but it will send a clear message … that they are supported equally in the city," said Natalie Cordova.

Opponents of the law, many of whom are Christian, say the law will infringe on their religious liberties and small businesses by forcing them to participate in gay marriages or allow men to use women’s bathrooms.

Opponents also say they don’t believe discrimination against LBGT people is widespread or that major businesses are avoiding the city, noting Amazon has recently announced it will open two distribution warehouses. Others called for the council to create a special referendum to allow voters to decide the issue.

"We the people want to vote on this bill," said Carter Jones. "We do not need another unnecessary regulation on the private sector."

It’s unclear whether the law has enough support to pass — so far, three council members have pledged to support it — although council members by now have listened to hours of testimony and received hundreds of emails about the issue.

Still, organizers on both sides said it was important for their groups to come out in force and make their voices heard.

"It’s important to show council members it’s not a done deal," said Roger Gannam, an Orlando attorney with the group Liberty Counsel, which opposes the discrimination protections. "The people who oppose this deserve to be heard before the council votes."

Jimmy Midyette, legislative director with the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality, also said it was important to the group to have a strong showing at the meeting.

And while he said it’d be nice to have more supporters than the opposing side, the only score that matters to him is the final vote on Feb. 14.

Christopher Hong: (904) 359-4272