HB 1663

Abstract

Prohibited discrimination; public accommodations, employment, credit, and housing: causes of action; sexual orientation and gender identity. Creates explicit causes of action for unlawful discrimination in public accommodations and employment in the Virginia Human Rights Act. Currently, under the Act there is no cause of action for discrimination in public accommodations, and the only causes of action for discrimination in employment are for (i) unlawful discharge on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including lactation, by employers employing more than five but fewer than 15 persons and (ii) unlawful discharge on the basis of age by employers employing more than five but fewer than 20 persons. The bill allows the causes of action to be pursued privately by the aggrieved person or, in certain circumstances, by the Attorney General. The bill prohibits discrimination in public and private employment on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill also codifies for state and local government employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, or status as a veteran. Additionally, the bill (a) prohibits discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran; (b) prohibits discrimination in credit on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, disability, and status as a veteran; and (c) adds discrimination on the basis of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as a veteran as an unlawful housing practice. The bill makes technical amendments. This bill incorporates HB 3, HB 21, HB 23, HB 217, HB 1050, HB 1200, and HB 1512.

Prohibited discrimination; public accommodations,employment, credit, and housing: causes of action; sexual orientation andgender identity. Creates explicit causes of action for unlawful discriminationin public accommodations and employment in the Virginia Human Rights Act.Currently, under the Act there is no cause of action for discrimination inpublic accommodations, and the only causes of action for discrimination inemployment are for (i) unlawful discharge on the basis of race, color,religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medicalconditions, including lactation, by employers employing more than five butfewer than 15 persons and (ii) unlawful discharge on the basis of age byemployers employing more than five but fewer than 20 persons. The bill allowsthe causes of action to be pursued privately by the aggrieved person or, incertain circumstances, by the Attorney General. The bill prohibitsdiscrimination in public and private employment on the basis of sexualorientation and gender identity. The bill also codifies for state and localgovernment employment the current prohibitions on discrimination in employmenton the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy,childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, orstatus as a veteran. Additionally, the bill (a) prohibits discrimination inpublic accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, orstatus as a veteran; (b) prohibits discrimination in credit on the basis ofsexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medicalconditions, disability, and status as a veteran; and (c) adds discrimination onthe basis of an individual's sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy,childbirth or related medical conditions, marital status, or status as aveteran as an unlawful housing practice. The bill makes technical amendments.