Does Connecticut have an anti-discrimination law protecting gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from discrimination?
Yes. In 1991, Connecticut became one of a handful of states to pass a comprehensive anti-discrimination law concerning sexual orientation in employment, housing, public accommodations and credit. Does it also protect people perceived of as gay, lesbian, and bisexual? Yes. The non-discrimination law defines “sexual orientation” as “having a preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality, having a history of such preference or being identified with such preference…”1 The language of “having a history of such a preference,” and the language of “being identified with” should allow a person who is fired because they are (inaccurately) perceived to be gay to invoke the protection of the anti-discrimination law to challenge the firing. Does it also protect people associated with gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals? Not specifically. But in some situations, if a person is fired from a job or evicted from their home because they hang out with someone who is gay or lesbian, it
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