Office of Human Rights

The Pinellas County Office of Human Rights is committed to protecting all citizens of Pinellas County from cases of discrimination in the areas of fair housing, employment, public accommodations, and government programs and assistance.

These include:

Race
Color
Religion
National Origin

Marital Status
Familial Status
Pregnancy
Gender (including Gender Identity and Gender Expression)

Sexual Orientation
Sexual Harassment
Age
Disability

In the News

Pinellas County helps celebrate 50th Anniversary of Passage of Fair Housing Act
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, was struck down by an assassin’s bullet in Memphis, Tennessee. This violent act of hate became a catalyst for advancing his fight for equality, and one week later, on April 11, 1968, the Fair Housing Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. Pinellas County, through the Office of Human Rights, will help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of passage of this landmark civil rights legislation by participating in the Tampa Bay Fair Housing Consortium’s 15th annual fair housing symposium entitled The Fair Housing Act at 50: Past, Present and Future. The symposium will be held Friday, April 20, 2018, from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM, at the Pinellas Realtor’s Organization, 4590 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater, FL 33762. At this symposium, we will also hear poems relating to fair housing and equality from three (3) students from Tampa’s Blake High School’s creative writing program. All of the powerful and impactful poems submitted by these talented students can be read here. Additionally, Human Rights Director Valenti will lead a discussion on service and emotional support animals under the Fair Housing Act. His PowerPoint presentation can be accessed here.

Fair Housing Choice
The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that entitlement communities receiving direct federal funding from Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership, and Emergency Shelter Grant programs must affirmatively further fair housing. HUD suggests this means jurisdictions must analyze and eliminate housing discrimination in the community; promote fair housing choice for all persons; provide opportunities for inclusive patterns of housing occupancy regardless of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability and national origin; promote housing that is structurally accessible to, and usable by, all persons, particularly persons with disabilities; and, foster compliance with the nondiscrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act.

Pinellas County's most recent Analysis to Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, which meets this federal obligation, may be found here:
FY 2016-2017 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice

Equal Employment Opportunity Plans Utilization Report

Discrimination - ADA Public Accommodations

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public accommodations, such as public parking spaces, ramps and handicapped railing must be accessible and service animals must be allowed access. The Americans with Disability Act guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment and transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications. Grievances concerning protections specifically provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act are filed separately from other claims. more >

ADA/Section 504 Grievance Process
File a claim
Florida State Courts System request for accommodation - Request for reasonable accommodations if you are a defendant, litigant/party, witness, juror, victim or attorney.
Florida State Courts System Interpreter Request - Request for interpreter if you are a defendant, litigant/party, witness, juror, victim or attorney.

Discrimination - Employment

Pinellas County prohibits discrimination in the workplace and covers recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, pay, tenure, discipline, discharge and privileges. Employment discrimination charges may also be filed with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. more >

File a Claim

Note to employers: The Pinellas County Office of Human Rights also conducts scheduled training sessions for public and private organizations upon request. These training programs address issues such as sexual harassment, diversity, and equal employment opportunity. For more information on training programs contact the Pinellas County Office of Human Rights at (727) 464-4880, and ask for the training coordinator.

Discrimination - Fair Housing

The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing because of race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, familial status or disability. This applies in the sale and rental of housing and mortgage lending. more >

File a Claim

Discrimination - Government Programs and Assistance / Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Pinellas County prohibits discrimination in the operation of any federally assisted program on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Pinellas County makes every effort to assist those with limited English proficiency, including maintaining a list of employees fluent in languages in addition to English to help with translations and utilizing Google translator program on the website. More information can be found at the following links:

Federal Discrimination Links

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

The resources on this page will help you to understand your rights and to find out where to go for help.
U.S. Department of Justice Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Know your rights and the newest laws.