There are many federal laws against discrimination. They were passed to protect people who, because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability, are denied their rights. Discrimination might occur when an individual attempts to vote; rent or buy a home; use a public facility; obtain a job, an education, or a bank loan; or do many other things. Discrimination is illegal when an individual is denied an opportunity or a service based on: - race, which is generally understood to be membership in a racial group. Depending on which law is involved, membership in an ethnic group can also constitute race; - color, which refers to a person's actual skin shade, and may constitute a separate discrimination factor regardless of the person's race; - sex, which refers to gender; - religion, which refers to a person's religious beliefs and practices, or lack thereof, or a person's membership in a religious group; - national origin, which refers to an individual's country of origin, the origin of an individual's ancestors, or the physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics of a particular nationality. This includes characteristics such as last name, accent, and cultural heritage; - age, which refers to persons aged 40 or over; or - disability, which refers to physical or mental impairments that substantially limit one or more major life activities of an individual. If you believe that you have been discriminated against and want to file a complaint with the federal government, this publication is intended to help you. This publication will help you review your rights and guide you through the initial steps of filing a discrimination complaint; it will not inform you of all the steps involved in successfully pursuing the complaint after you have filed it. If you desire a detailed description of the overall process beyond the initial steps, further information can be obtained by contacting the federal, state, and local officials or one or more of the organizations listed in this publication.

This publication provides useful information on how, when, and where to file a complaint. It includes additional information for special circumstances where a person might lack citizenship, be a Native American, be a member of the military, or be institutionalized. It also lists contact information for federal agency regional, district, and local civil rights offices; selected private organizations; and state bar associations.