Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 4, § 7 Definitions of statutory terms; statutory construction
Clauses 62 & 63 define protective hairstyles historically associated with race.
- See also the "CROWN Act" St. 2022, c.117 (effective October 24, 2022)
MGL c. 12, § 11H(b) Right to bias-free professional policing
MGL c. 93, § 102 & § 103 Mass. Equal Rights Act (MERA)
MGL c. 111, § 72GG Prohibits discrimination against residents of long-term care facilities on the basis of a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status or HIV status; also provides for transition-related assessments, therapy and treatments for transgender residents (effective June 3, 2025)
MGL c. 149, §§ 105A-105C Discriminatory wage rates based on sex
MGL c. 151B Unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry or sex
Includes unlawful discrimination against individuals with disabilities.
- MGL c. 151B, § 4(1E) Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
MGL c. 272, § 92A Advertisement, book, notice or sign relative to discrimination; definition of place of public accommodation, resort or amusement
MGL c. 272, § 98 Discrimination in admission to, or treatment in, place of public accommodation; punishment; forfeiture; civil right
Massachusetts regulations
804 CMR Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
Note: Many other state agencies maintain non-discrimination regulations. You can find other agency regulations by CMR number or by subject.
Federal laws and regulations
Laws enforced by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Including the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which went into effect June 27, 2023. See also new federal rule to be codified as 29 CFR 1636 (effective June 18, 2024).
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
A link to the US Code and a summary of the law with helpful links. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
Equal Credit Opportunity Act
Regulated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
45 CFR Part 80 Discrimination under the Dept. of Health and Human Services
47 CFR Part 16 Digital discrimination of access
Complaints and enforcement
Depending on the violation, complaints of discrimination can be made to federal or state agencies. This is not a complete list, however it provides some of the most common enforcement agencies.
Massachusetts
| Agency | File a complaint |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) One Ashburton Place, Suite 601 Boston, MA 02108 Main: (617) 994-6000 TTY: (617) 994-6196 | File a complaint of discrimination MCAD is the state agency that is responsible for enforcing and investigating violations of MGL 151B, including discrimination in housing and other complaints over which they have jurisdiction. |
| Massachusetts Attorney General's Civil Rights Division Main: (617) 963-2917 (Mass relay dial 7-1-1 and connect via main number) | File a civil rights complaint "[R]esponds to complaints related to civil rights and civil liberties. The office takes enforcement action when necessary and can mediate disputes." |
Federal
| Agency | File a complaint |
|---|---|
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Main: (855) 411-2372 | Submit a complaint about a financial product or service |
| U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202-1100 Main: 800-421-3481 TDD: 800-877-8339 | How to file a discrimination complaint with the Office for Civil Rights |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey Building | Filing a civil rights complaint |
| U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Main: 202-708-1112 TTY: 202-708-1455 | Report housing discrimination |
| U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20530 Main: 800-514-0301 TTY: 1-833-610-1264 (TTY) | |
| U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission JFK Building, Room 475 Boston, MA 02203-0506 Main: (800) 669-4000 TTY: (800) 669-6820 | Public portal Use this portal to file a Charge of Discrimination against an employer. For attorneys, use E-File. |
Selected cases
Web sources
General
Advisory on the application of the Commonwealth’s consumer protection, civil rights, and data privacy laws to artificial intelligence, Mass. Attorney General, 2024.
Advisory clarifies that AI developers, suppliers, and users must comply with existing state consumer protection, anti-discrimination, and data privacy laws.
Civil rights for individuals and advocates, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services.
Laws against discrimination based on race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, and religion by certain health care and human services.
Discrimination & harassment, Mass.gov.
Know your rights, ACLU.
Includes:
- Digital discrimination in hiring
- Race, ethnicity, or national origin-based discrimination
- Sex discrimination
MCAD guidelines, model policies, and posters, Mass. Commission Against Discrimination.
The MCAD publishes Guidelines to provide the public with the Commission's interpretation of the application statutes on employment discrimination, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and public accommodation.
Overview of types of discrimination in Massachusetts, Mass. Commission Against Discrimination.
Education, Employment, Credit & Lending, Housing, Public Places (Places of Public Accommodation).
Consumer
Credit discrimination, Federal Trade Commission.
Protections when you deal with any organizations or people who regularly extend credit.
Employment and workplace
CORI procedure reforms fact sheet, Mass. Commission Against Discrimination (2010).
Outlines questions employers may and may not ask about a job applicant's or employee's criminal record.
Federal antidiscrimination laws, Nolo.
Lists the major federal laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and which agency enforces them.
“Know your rights: workplace discrimination is illegal,” EEOC.
Includes printable posters with info on discriminatory practices and what to do.
Massachusetts equal pay law, Mass. Attorney General.
As of July 1, 2018, the equal pay law provides more clarity as to what constitutes unlawful wage discrimination and adds protections to ensure greater fairness and equity in the workplace. The Attorney General's Office has issued guidance and resources to assist employers in complying with the law, and has a link to file a complaint.
Protections against employment discrimination for service members and veterans, EEOC, 2022.
This document helps explain where to get help if you are a service member or veteran and you feel that you have been discriminated against in employment because of your military status, veteran status, or another protected basis.
Workplace accommodation toolkit, Job Accommodation Network.
This online toolkit, funded by the US Dept. of Labor, helps employers ensure disability-inclusive workplaces. It "centralizes resources and guidance related to reasonable accommodations, including sample policies, templates and checklists, as well as training videos and access to thousands of specific accommodation ideas."
Housing
Fair housing law, Mass. Attorney General.
"Discrimination in housing is against the law. Learn more about housing rights and responsibilities." Includes:
A handbook on the legal obligations and rights of public and assisted housing providers under federal and state fair housing law for applicants and tenants with disabilities, Mass. Housing, July 2015.
Explains fair housing / discrimination law to landlords, including: how to market your apartment legally, communication with prospective tenants, dealing with families and children, explanation of disabilities and the rights of the disabled, and more.
Print sources
Bringing and defending a fair housing case, MCLE, 2012.
Credit discrimination, NCLC, 2022.
Employment discrimination in Massachusetts, 4th ed., MCLE, 2024.
Massachusetts employment law, 6th ed., MCLE, 2024, Chapters 4-10.
Massachusetts Superior Court civil practice jury instructions, 3rd ed., MCLE, loose-leaf, Chapter 5, Employment discrimination.
Reasonable accommodations in housing demystified, MCLE, 2018.
Representing clients before the MCAD in employment cases, MCLE, 2024.
Your rights in the workplace by Sachi Barreiro, Nolo, 2018. (eBook available with library card).
Contact for Massachusetts law about discrimination
Online
| Last updated: | November 1, 2024 |
|---|