Legal Protections for Service Members and Veterans in the District

The District protects more characteristics from discrimination than almost any jurisdiction, but not military service. No protected status. D.C. Code 2-1402.11 makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, status as a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense or stalking, credit information, and homeless status. Military status and veteran status are not on the list, and the Council's statement of intent in D.C. Code 2-1401.01 does not mention them either. Several states in this catalog, Delaware and New Jersey among them, have added military status to their human rights laws in the last two years. A District veteran refused work or housing because of service has no claim under the Human Rights Act for that reason alone; a service-connected disability is protected as a disability. Federal law instead. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. 3901 and following, covers the District expressly: its definition of State at 50 U.S.C. 3911(6) includes the District of Columbia. It gives a service member the right to end a residential lease on permanent change of station or deployment orders of 90 days or more, a 6 percent interest cap on pre-service debts, protection from default judgments and stays of civil proceedings. The District has no lease termination statute of its own. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects civilian jobs during service and after, and its definition of State in 38 U.S.C. 4303 includes the District. Voting. The Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act, D.C. Code 1-1061.01 and following, lets a uniformed-service voter whose voting residence is the District, and the voter's dependents, register and apply for a military-overseas ballot electronically and use the federal write-in absentee ballot. Veterans Day. Veterans Day, November 11, is a legal public holiday in the District under D.C. Code 1-612.02.