<P> U.S. federal law protects individuals from discrimination or harassment based on sex, race, age, disability, color, creed, national origin or religion . Many state laws also give certain protected groups special protection against harassment and discrimination, as do many employer policies . Although it is not required by federal law, employer policies may also protect employees from harassment or discrimination based on marital status or sexual orientation . The following characteristics are "protected" by United States federal anti-discrimination law: </P> <Ul> <Li> Race--Civil Rights Act of 1964 </Li> <Li> Religion--Civil Rights Act of 1964 </Li> <Li> National origin--Civil Rights Act of 1964 </Li> <Li> Age (40 and over)--Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 </Li> <Li> Sex--Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Civil Rights Act of 1964 <Ul> <Li> The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission interprets' sex' to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Pregnancy--Pregnancy Discrimination Act </Li> <Li> Citizenship--Immigration Reform and Control Act </Li> <Li> Familial status--Civil Rights Act of 1968 Title VIII: Housing cannot discriminate for having children, with an exception for senior housing </Li> <Li> Disability status--Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 </Li> <Li> Veteran status--Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act </Li> <Li> Genetic information--Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act </Li> </Ul> <Li> Race--Civil Rights Act of 1964 </Li> <Li> Religion--Civil Rights Act of 1964 </Li>

The 1964 civil rights act did not include individuals with disabilities as a protected class