Protected Classes under Title 7

Select for details and cases.

  1. Race and Color
  2. National Origin
  3. Sex, Sexuality and Pregnancy
  4. Religion and Religious Practices
Race and Color (return to top)
  1. Prohibits discrimination because of racial origins in Africa, Asia; protects Native Americans, Eskimos, Native Hawaiians
  2. Whites, Europeans and Caucasians protected against race discrimination under same standards as minorities
    1. McDonald v. Santa Fe Trail Transportation Co., 427 U.S. 273, 96 S.Ct.2574, 49 L.Ed.2d 493 (1976)
  3. Preference for lighter skin is "color discrimination"
    1. Walker v. Secretary of Treasury of IRS, 713 F.Supp. 403 (N.D.Ga.1989)
  4. Cannot use race of spouse to discriminate
    1. Parr v. Woodmen of the World Life Insurance, 792 F.2d 888 (11th Cir.1986)
National Origin (return to top)
  1. Definition: country from which your forbearers came
  2. Prohibits discrimination against ethnic groups (Italians, Latinos, Polish, etc.)
  3. Prohibits discrimination based on cultural differences (Armenians, Gypsies, Cajuns, etc.)
  4. Requiring English basic skills not discriminatory
    1. Frontera v. Sindell, 522 F.2d 1215 (6th Cir.1975)
    2. Vasquez v. McAllen Bag & Supply Co., 660 F.2d 686 (5thCir.1981)
    3. Fragante v. City and County of Honolulu, 888 F.2d 591 (9th Cir.1989)
  5. Prohibits discrimination against accented English
    1. Berke v. Ohio Dept. of Public Welfare, 628 F.2d 980 (6th Cir.1980)
Sex, Sexuality and Pregnancy (return to top)
  1. Sex defined as gender, not sexuality or sexual practices
  2. Not discrimination to prefer persons because of:
    1. Sexuality: DeSantis v. Pacific Telephone, 608 F.2d 327 (9th Cir.1979)
    2. Sexual attractiveness: Malarkey v. Texaco, 559 F.Supp. 117 D.C.N.Y.1982), aff'd, 704F.2d 674 (2d Cir.1983)
    3. Sexual activity or morality: Thomas v. Metro Flight, 814 F.2d 1506 (10th Cir.1987)
  3. Rule applied to one sex only is discrimination
    1. No children for female employees: Phillips v. Martin Marietta , 400 U.S. 542, 91 S.Ct. 496, 27 L.Ed.2d. 613 (1971)
    2. No employment for married women: Sprogis v. UAL,444 F.2d 1194 (7th Cir. 1971)
  4. May not measure performance in terms of sex stereotypes: Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 288, 109 S.Ct. 1775, 104 L.Ed.2d 268 (1989)
  5. Sex includes pregnancy and related conditions
  6. Not discrimination to use sexual preference as condition
    1. DeSantis v. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph
    2. Ulane v. Eastern Airlines, 742 F.2d 1081 (7th Cir.1984)
  7. States and municipalities may limit discrimination based on sexual preference
  8. Homosexuality not a disability for ADA and 504
Religion and Religious Practices (return to top)
  1. Prohibits unless religion is BFOQ
    1. Pime v. Loyola Univ. of Chicago, 803 F.2d 351 (7th Cir.1986)
    2. Abrams v. Baylor College of Medicine, 805 F.2d 528 (5th Cir.1986)
  2. Religion defined as organized faith
    1. Atheists are protected: EEOC v. Townley Manufacturing, 859 F.2d 610 (9th Cir.1988)
  3. Discrimination based on religion of secular employer prohibited
    1. Little v. Wuerl, 929 F.2d 944 (3rd Cir.1991) (termination after divorce)
  4. Membership in Klan not protected religious activity
    1. Bellamy v. Mason's Store, 368 F.Supp. 1025 (D.C.Va.1973), aff'd, 508 F.2d 504 (4th Cir.1974)
  5. Duty to accommodate (Holy Days, teaching Bible study, attending church conventions)
    1. Redmond v. GAF Corp, 574 F.2d 897 (7th Cir.1978)
  6. Grooming and clothing practices protected
    1. Bhatia v. Chevron USA, 1984-1985 O.S.H.D. (CCH) 26,93, 734 F.2d 1382 (9th Cir.1984)
  7. Exemption for religious organizations
    1. Exempt from religious discrimination
    2. Does not apply to secular organizations

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