The City of Gainesville enacted an ordinance prohibiting discrimination within the City of Gainesville on the basis of: race, color, gender, age, disability, religion, national origin and marital status in the 1970′s. On June 1, 1998, the City Commission added sexual orientation to the classifications protected by the ordinance.

 

Chapter 8 of the City’s Code of Ordinances protect residents in these classes within the corporate limits of the City of Gainesville and the Office of Equal Opportunity enforces, files, processes and hears complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation and credit.

• If the complaint concerns employment, there must be five or more employees

• Any non-housing related complaint must be made within 180 days

• Housing related complaints must be made within one year

• The alleged discrimination must occur within the Gainesville City Limits

• The complaint cannot be against another governmental agency

On November 5, 2002, the residents of the City of Gainesville voted to amend the City’s charter to reorganize the Office of Equal Opportunity as a Charter Office. As such, the Equal Opportunity Director became a Charter Officer position reporting directly to the City Commission.

Finally, on September 4, 2008, the City Commission included the tenth protected class and added gender identity to the City’s Discrimination, Harassment and Conduct Policy, and Chapter 8 of the City’s Code of Ordinances.