Speaking before a crowd of about 15 people at the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, Gainesville Equal Opportunity Director Cecil Howard made a promise.
“What I’d like to do is bring together a sense of community,” he said. “We won’t be deemed the roach motel, where a case comes in but doesn’t come out.”
Since assuming his new role in late October, Howard has worked with numerous organizations to ensure equality for all Gainesville residents.
Speaking for about an hour, Howard discussed some of the programs his office is pursuing.
He promised the crowd that acts of intolerance within Gainesville will not be tolerated.
“If someone goes over to an apartment and is told, ‘We don’t want your kind,’ my office needs to know about it,” he said.
Howard said there’s much more work to be done, primarily in racial and gender equality.
Terry Fleming, the co-president of the Pride Community Center of North Central Florida, agreed with Howard’s notion, pointing out how his office still gets complaints from those who feel they have been discriminated against.
Although he emphasized the need to educate people on their rights and protections, Fleming expressed much excitement at how much Howard’s office has been reaching out to the community.
Howard also hopes to establish communication with the Dove World Outreach Center, which has raised controversy with its statements regarding Islam and the gay community.
Since taking office, Howard has earned the respect of many of his constituents and colleagues, including Gainesville City Commissioner Craig Lowe, who attended Sunday.
Lowe praised Howard’s work, noting his proactive approach and his participation in community outreach.
For Lowe, who has championed equal opportunity initiatives and is gay, the fight to ensure equal rights is personal.
“Discrimination based on any factor is wrong and robs Gainesville of its intellect and talent,” he said. “When the city discriminates, it’s a loser.”
