Under Maryland law, which statement is true about protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation?

Under Maryland law, which statement is true about protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation?

• A. It is protected by state law but not federal law.
• B. It is protected by federal law but not state law.
• C. It is protected by both state and federal law.
• D. It is not protected by either state or federal law.

Answer: (A)

The protection extends at both levels. Federally, discrimination based on sexual orientation is treated as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII, a stance solidified by the Supreme Court through the interpretation of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation (as clarified in recent rulings). Maryland also has explicit state protections: laws that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and related areas, enforced by state civil rights agencies. So individuals are protected by both state and federal law. The other options don’t fit because federal protections exist in addition to Maryland’s protections, and there is protection at the federal level as well as the state level.

The protection extends at both levels. Federally, discrimination based on sexual orientation is treated as a form of sex discrimination under Title VII, a stance solidified by the Supreme Court through the interpretation of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation (as clarified in recent rulings). Maryland also has explicit state protections: laws that bar discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and related areas, enforced by state civil rights agencies. So individuals are protected by both state and federal law. The other options don’t fit because federal protections exist in addition to Maryland’s protections, and there is protection at the federal level as well as the state level.