A new survey reveals that most LGBT residents would not recommend the city as a place to live to other LGBT people, feel Jacksonville doesn't embrace diversity and believe its laws don't protect gay and transgender people.

A similar survey also was performed in 2008, 2011 and 2014. Each time, "there has been a steady increase in the numbers of LGBT persons who view Jacksonville as an unwelcoming place and perceive current protections of LGBT citizens as inadequate," the most recent University of North Florida study said.

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This time, 57 percent of survey participants said they faced discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The clearest opinion to emerge from the survey was the community's overwhelming support (97 percent) for an anti-discrimination law that includes LGBT rights, a law called the Human Rights Ordinance or HRO.

In February, City Council withdrew two proposed HRO bills - including one that would have let the issue be decided by voter referendum - effectively delaying the long-standing, divisive issue.

In 2012, the City Council voted 10-9 against a bill that would've expanded the city's anti-discrimination laws to cover "sexual orientation."

But the researchers urged care in interpreting the results. The survey used self-reporting volunteers who had access to the Internet, and it was not a diverse group. Nearly all the survey respondents - 88 percent - were white, and mostly they were gay men or lesbians.

"Therefore, our results may not accurately represent the experiences of transgender, bisexual, or racial minority Jacksonville residents, whom may have different concerns and experiences than those of gay men or lesbians," the study said.

In January, the University of North Florida study surveyed 211 respondents who didn't identify as heterosexual or identified as transgender. Half the volunteers were recruited by LGBT organizations like Jacksonville Coalition for Equality.

The most common discriminatory activity in Jacksonville was off-color jokes and teasing, which 61 percent of survey respondents reported. A third of those surveyed reported receiving threats, and a third reported being bullied.

Almost 63 percent didn't think Jacksonville embraced diversity, and 82 percent didn't think Jacksonville protects LGBT persons and their families.

Most frequently, people reported being discriminated against at work, which is where 28 percent said they were discriminated.

The survey had a nearly 7 percent margin of error, with 12 percent of people reported being denied service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and almost 6 percent reported being fired.

Half a percent reported being evicted.

The survey researchers were not available for comment Monday.

Andrew Pantazi: (904) 359-4310