File a civil rights complaint

To file a complaint online, you will need to provide the following information: 

• The type of complaint
• The name of the company, business, or organization you are filing the complaint against
• A clear and detailed summary of the complaint, including names and dates if possible
• Your name and contact information, including a mailing address and phone number

Other information you can provide that is not required but may be helpful includes:  

• The address, phone number, or other contact information of the entity you are filing a complaint against (if available)
• If you are filing on behalf of someone else
• Your desired outcome for this complaint
• What actions you have already taken, if any
• Your email address

Examples of possible civil rights violations

Your civil rights under the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act may have been violated if: 

• You have been the victim of threats, intimidation or coercion based upon your
  • race
  • color
  • national origin
  • religion
  • age
  • ancestry
  • gender
  • gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • or disability
• Or because you engaged in a protected activity (for example, the right to vote, or the right to obtain an education, or the right to freely associate)

Your housing rights may have been violated if

• You are a tenant or an applicant for housing who has been discriminated against on the basis of
  • race
  • color
  • religion
  • national origin
  • ancestry
  • gender
  • gender identity
  • veteran status
  • disability
  • sexual orientation
  • children
  • lead paint
  • or receipt of public assistance

Your employment rights may have been violated if: 

• You are an employee or job applicant who has been discriminated against in employment on the basis of
  • race
  • color
  • religion
  • national origin
  • ancestry
  • gender
  • gender identity
  • veteran status
  • age (40 and older)
  • disability
  • sexual orientation
  • genetics
  • or based on your reporting of discrimination

Your rights under the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act may have been violated if:

• Your employer has discriminated against you based on your gender by paying you less than employees of a different gender who performs comparable work

Your rights under the Massachusetts Public Accommodation Law may have been violated if: 

• You have been discriminated against in places of public accommodation (such as a hotel, restaurant, bar, theater, concert hall, sports stadium, store, shopping center, or other retail or service establishment) based on
  • race
  • color
  • religious creed
  • national origin
  • sex
  • gender identity
  • sexual orientation
  • deafness
  • blindness
  • any physical or mental disability
  • or ancestry