What Do Civil Rights Laws Protect?
Discrimination refers to treating people unequally based on their status.
Federal and state laws protect people from discrimination and guarantee fair treatment in many settings. These laws, known as civil rights laws, protect people from discrimination in:
- Employment
- Housing
- Education
- Receipt of credit
- Public accommodations
- Medical affliction
- Retaliation
There are many important pieces of federal legislation, making discrimination illegal. These discrimination laws include:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA), which protects men and women who perform substantially equal work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), which protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older; Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA), which prohibit employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in the private sector, and in state and local governments; Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities who work in the federal government;
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), which prohibits employment discrimination based on genetic information about an applicant, employee, or former employee; and the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which, among other things, provides monetary damages in cases of intentional employment discrimination.
But there are many other additional federal statutes, as well as California laws, prohibiting discrimination.
Ageism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination can have serious legal consequences. It is wise to consult a skilled discrimination attorney to see determine whether your civil rights have been violated.
Types of Discrimination
Your discrimination law attorney can help protect you against many different kinds of constitutional and statutory violations of your rights. Discrimination can be on the basis of such things as:
- Age
- Race
- Sex
- Disability
- HIV status
- Immigration status
- National origin
- Religion
- Medical and psychological condition
Laws prohibiting discrimination are vast and complex. For example, under federal law, an employer is required to reasonably accommodate the religious belief of an employee or prospective employee, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship. Because there are so many layers to discrimination law, it is important to seek legal advice from experienced civil rights lawyers who can assess whether your civil rights have been violated.
Los Angeles Civil Rights Lawyer Near Me 310-844-9696
Examples of Racial Discrimination in Employment
There are many types of discrimination in different settings. For example, in the workplace, discrimination based on race can include discriminatory acts such as:
- Hiring procedures which tend to disfavor certain races
- Assigning difficult or dangerous jobs to persons of color
- Giving a greater workload to those of certain ethnic groups
- Giving lower salaries to minority groups
- Offering fewer benefits depending upon racial identity
- Offering fewer chances of promotion depending on race
- Offering fewer opportunities for training depending upon the person’s racial group
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Contact an Experienced Civil Rights Attorney in Los Angeles, CA
At Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team, our Los Angeles civil rights attorneys represent people whose civil rights have been violated. If you believe you have experienced suffered a violation of your civil rights, it is important to seek legal assistance. Our attorneys are distinguished by their experience and track record of successfully representing individuals who have suffered from discrimination. Contact our law offices today for a legal consultation.
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