By its enabling statute, the Human Rights Commission enforces state anti-discrimination/civil rights laws: the Vermont Fair Housing and Public Accommodations Act (VFHPA), 9 V.S.A. §4500 et seq., and the Vermont Fair Employment Practices Act (FEPA) and Conditions for Employment under 21 V.S.A. §309 (flexible working arrangements) for State government employees only. 1 Places of public accommodations include hospitals, prisons, roads, schools, businesses, and any office or establishment that provides goods or services to the general public. These statutes prohibit individuals or entities from taking adverse action (discriminating) against individuals in protected categories based on their membership in one or more of the protected categories.
In 2018, the State of Vermont adopted the gender-neutral bathroom law for all single-stall restrooms in the state, 18 V.S.A. § 1792. The Legislature assigned responsibility for inspections of these facilities and related signage to the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Fire Safety. However, gender identity is a protected class in accommodation law, so as a public accommodations issue the law falls under the enforcement authority of the Vermont Human Rights Commission.
If you work for a private employer and believe you may have experienced discrimination visit the Vermont Attorney General's Office Civil Rights Web Page or call them at 888-745-9195.
The protected categories for each area of jurisdiction are as follows:
