protected class

The appellants, both homosexual male citizens of Bangladesh, arrived in Australia and applied for protection visas. To be recognized as refugees, the appellants had to show that they had a well-founded fear of being persecuted due to their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The appellants argued that they belonged to a “particular social group” that was subject to discrimination and harm in Bangladesh by virtue of their homosexuality.

Cece, a young Albanian woman fled Albania in order to avoid trafficking and forced prostitution rings that target young women living alone. While living alone in Korce, Albania, Cece caught the attention of one of the leaders of a well-known trafficking ring. He followed, harassed, and threatened Cece. Her reports of the assault to the authorities were perfunctorily dismissed.

§ 4a-60a requires that all contracts entered into by Connecticut state agencies, municipalities, and quasi-public agencies include an express provision prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Contractors, subcontractors, and their agents must agree not to discriminate in hiring, promotion, compensation, or other terms and conditions of employment. In addition to prohibiting discrimination, the statute obligates contractors to take affirmative steps to ensure equal opportunity.

Article I of the Constitution of Michigan contains the state’s Declaration of Rights, articulating fundamental guarantees of equality, liberty, and personal autonomy. Three sections are particularly significant are § 2 on equal protection, § 25 on marriage, and § 28 on reproductive freedom.

The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act declares that the opportunity to obtain employment, housing, education, and the full use of public accommodations is a civil right. The Act prohibits discrimination in these areas based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, familial status, or marital status. It further provides protections against retaliation for opposing discriminatory practices or participating in related proceedings.

New York Executive Law § 296 identifies all conduct that constitutes unlawful discrimination in New York State. It applies across employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, education, real property transactions, and certain government actions.

NYS Penal Law § 485.05 defined when a criminal offense qualifies as a hate crime in New York State. A crime becomes a hate crime if the person either selects the victim based on a belief or perception regarding the victim’s race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, religion, religious practice, age, disability, or sexual orientation, or if the offense is committed in whole or substantial part because of such a belief or perception.

The Ohio Civil Rights Act, also known as the Ohio Fair Employment Practices Act, codified primarily in Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4112, is the state’s comprehensive anti-discrimination law.

To prevent wage discrimination, Rhode Island’s equal pay law provides that no employer shall discriminate based on any protected characteristic in the payment of wages. Protected characteristics include: race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, or country of ancestral origin. However, merit-based variations in pay including, but not limited to, those based on skill, experience, and number of hours worked are not prohibited. Any attempt to contract around the equal pay law will be void.

The Seychelles Penal Code (Amendment) Act 2024 introduces new protections against hate crimes and hate speech by incorporating “protected characteristics” into the Penal Code. Section 5 now defines protected characteristics to include race, religion or lack of belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, political affiliation, and HIV/AIDS status.