Protected Classes and Areas of Discrimination
In the City of Columbus, there are 12 protected classes and three areas of protection from discrimination. A protected class is a group of people with a common characteristic who are protected from discrimination on the basis of that characteristic. The protected classes in the Columbus City Code are:
- Race
- Sex
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender Identity or Expression
- Color
- Religion
- Ancestry
- National Origin
- Age
- Disability
- Familial Status
- Military Status
The areas in which you may file a complaint are:
- Employment
- Housing
- Public Accommodation
Every complaint of discrimination must have a protected class and an area in which the alleged discriminatory action occurred. For example, a complaint may state an individual was treated differently based on their race in the area of employment. For additional examples, please view the "examples of discrimination" page.