Vermont Sexual Orientation Law
Cecelia M. McGraw
Columbia Southern University
Professor Robert Allen
Employment Law

Anti-discrimination based on Sexual Orientation Law in Vermont The state of Vermont legally imposed comprehensive statewide law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. The law defined sexual oriented discrimination as bias treatment based on sexual orientation referring to individual’s perceived or actual gender identity that could refer to female or male homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality (The Williams Institute, 2009; LGBT Legal Advocates, 2014). The law confers protection to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender from discriminative treatments in employment, housing accommodations, education, health care, home parks, and public accommodation that include hotels, restaurants, credits and insurance (The Williams Institute, 2009; LGBT Legal Advocates, 2014). The law also prohibits sexual orientation-based discrimination limiting the rights of pertained individuals on parenting, recognition of same-sex couples, and freedom of speech (The Williams Institute, 2009). The comprehensive anti-discrimination law, however, has specified allowable exemptions and limitations too. For instance, public accommodations and religious-governed institutions with specified general restrictive policy on accessibility and availability of services based on sex or marital status may be exempted from the law (LGBT Legal Advocates, 2014). In the event anyone has the reason to believe of experiencing discrimination based on their sexual orientation, they have full rights to file complaints to specified agencies that include Federal agencies, Human Rights Commission, Civil Rights Unit of Attorney General’s Office, Superior Court, and other specified agencies depending on the claims (LGBT Legal Advocates, 2014). The case will be reviewed and proceed to due processes. Positive discrimination grounds found during investigation either will move the case to conciliation, settlement proceedings or filed to the court. Proven discrimination based on sexual orientation will oblige the discriminating party to consider employment reinstatement, due employment upgrading, and due pays and benefits to the complainant. The discriminating party will be also liable to due civil penalties, criminal penalties, compensation, and damages that include emotional stress incurred to the complainant as applicable (LGBT Legal Advocates, 2014). For instance, proven sexual orientation based in housing accommodation can face $1000 penalties in addition to other penalties and damages. In addition to penalties, the