WHAT IS ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION?

Discrimination comes in many forms. Some of them are illegal, and some are not illegal under current law. The law protects you from discrimination in five areas:

• Employment - getting a job or on the job
• Education - in school, whether it be public or private school, college, trade school or university
• Public Accommodations - access to public places or services
• Housing and Commercial Property- in renting, buying selling or getting a loan for a home

Article 145 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem prohibits discrimination in employment, education, public accommodations, and housing based on race, color, age (40 and over), sex, ancestry, national origin, religion, familial status, physical or mental disability, the use of guide or support animals and/or mechanical aides for disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and marital status.  The law also prohibits employment discrimination based on holding a GED instead of a high school diploma, and refusal to participate in abortion or sterilization procedures.  You are protected against retaliation for filing a complaint, assisting with a complaint investigation or opposing unlawful discrimination.

The law defines each of the areas in which discrimination is prohibited and the bases of illegal discrimination listed above, as well as others, included in the law.

A job applicant is turned down because he is African-American. A woman is paid less than a man for the same work. Your boss or co-worker makes unwanted sexual advances. A student with disabilities is denied the use of a guide dog. A school or retail store doesn’t offer accessible parking for people with disabilities. You are offered one price for an apartment over the phone, then you arrive with children and the landlord quotes a higher price... All of these situations and many more can be illegal discrimination.

If you believe you have experienced illegal discrimination, you have the right to file a complaint with the Bethlehem Human Relations Commission. Complaint forms can be found at the links to the right. Please fill out the form that best describes what happened to you.  You may file your complaint in any of the following ways: (1) mailing it to the Bethlehem Human Relations Commission, 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018; (2) mailing or delivering it in person to the City Clerk’s office, 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018; or (3) by submitting it electronically through this website. Complaints must be filed within 180 days of the alleged act of harm (the discriminatory action or incident).