Legal protections in Atlantic County ensure employees are shielded from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). This law prohibits employers from making decisions based on an individual’s real or perceived sexual or romantic attraction, identity, or expression.
The LAD explicitly bans workplace discrimination tied to:
- Heterosexuality – attraction to a different gender
- Homosexuality – attraction to the same gender
- Bisexuality – attraction to both genders
- Transgender identity – where a person’s gender identity or expression differs from their sex assigned at birth
- Gender identity or expression – how a person identifies internally and expresses outwardly, including through clothing, behavior, or appearance
The New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) enforces these protections. Employers are barred from discriminatory practices such as:
- Refusal to hire
- Unlawful termination
- Harassment
- Pay disparity
- Unequal treatment in job conditions
Discrimination based on perceived sexual orientation is also prohibited. For example, courts in New Jersey have ruled in favor of employees who faced bias due to a supervisor’s mistaken assumption about their orientation—resulting in significant legal remedies.
Victims of sexual orientation discrimination in Atlantic County have two main options for pursuing justice:
- File a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights within 180 days of the last discriminatory incident
- File a lawsuit in the Superior Court within two years of the violation
Consult Atlantic County Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawyers
If you’ve experienced workplace discrimination based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, the attorneys at NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC are ready to help. With deep experience handling claims under the LAD, our team will fight to enforce your rights through negotiation or litigation. Contact us today to discuss your case and legal options.