HB 6638, An Act Revising the State’s Antidiscrimination Statutes

LGBTQ+ people should be able to participate fully in life free from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity on the job; in housing; when shopping or getting services at restaurants, hotels, or other public places; and when accessing government programs and services. HB 6638 makes two changes to our anti-discrimination statutes. First, it adds “age” to protected classes under § 46a-58, ensuring that more people are protected from discrimination and applying the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act to state law. Second, it modernizes the existing definition of sexual orientation, moving away from thirty-year-old outdated and offensive terminology.