Indianapolis and Marion County: Veteran Status Is a Protected Class

Chapter 581 of the Revised Code of the Consolidated City and County lists "United States military service veteran status" among its protected characteristics, alongside race, sex, religion, disability and others. It treats as discriminatory the denial of equal opportunity because of veteran status in employment, education, public accommodations and the purchase or rental of real estate, including steering and blockbusting by brokers. Who is covered. An employer with six or more employees in the city-county, landlords, sellers, brokers, lenders, places of public accommodation and schools, with the exceptions in section 581-404. Every city or county contract must carry a clause forbidding the contractor to discriminate against employees or applicants because of veteran status (581-102). How to complain. File with the Office of Equal Opportunity within 180 days of the act (581-408). The office investigates and tries to conciliate, and unresolved complaints go to a hearing and can be enforced in court. Indiana law has its own protections for service members (see the Indiana entry on private employers); this ordinance reaches veteran status in housing and public accommodations as well, county-wide.