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Know Your Rights
Whether you're facing issues at work, searching for housing, accessing services, or experiencing harassment because of who you are, you have protections. This page explains those rights and what steps to take if you think discrimination has happened.
Pick a topic below to learn more.
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Articles
Employment
Protections against unfair treatment in hiring, firing, harassment, accommodations, retaliation, and other workplace decisions.
Financial Credit & Lending
Protections against discrimination in loans, banking, credit applications, interest rates, and financial services.
Housing
Your rights to equal opportunity housing and commercial real estate, and related services, including real estate agents, mortgages, and appraisals.
Education
Protections for students against discrimination and harassment in elementary schools, high schools, colleges, and universities.
Public Accommodations
Your right to equal access in stores, services, restaurants, facilities, public restrooms, and other public spaces.
Hate Incidents & Bias-Motivated Harassment
Information on reporting bias incidents, understanding protections, and getting help when targeted for a protected trait.
Subject Areas
Sexual Harassment
Guidance on recognizing, preventing, and reporting unwelcome conduct or hostile treatment in work or public settings.
Gender & Sexual Orientation
Protections for transgender, nonbinary, and LGBTQ+ people across employment, housing, public spaces, and services.
Immigration & Citizenship
Rights protecting immigrants and multilingual communities from discriminatory treatment, documentation demands, or unequal service.
Pregnancy & Parental Rights
Protections for pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and related accommodations in employment and housing situations.
Disabilities
Requirements for reasonable accommodations and equal access in workplaces, housing, public spaces, and services.
Reports and Guidance
All Reports and Guidance
A full index of IDHR guidance, reports, fact sheets, and public releases across all topic areas.
For Employers, Housing Providers & Businesses
Looking for compliance guidance, training materials, or required posters?
What Protected Characteristics Mean
Under Illinois law, you cannot be discriminated against based on:
Age: Age 40 and over (some protections may apply to younger workers)
Ancestry: Your ethnic or cultural heritage
Arrest Record: Your arrest record (with limitations)
Citizenship Status: Your actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status
Color: Your skin color or complexion
Conviction Record: Your conviction record (with limitations)
Disability: Physical or mental impairments that substantially limit major life activities
Familial Status: Having children under 18 (housing context)
Gender Identity: Your gender identity, including transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming identities
Language: A person’s spoken native tongue when used in communications not related to job duties
Marital Status: Whether you're married, single, divorced, etc.
Military Status: Your service in the military
Religion: Your religious beliefs, practices, or lack thereof
Reproductive Health Decisions: A person’s decisions regarding contraception; fertility or sterilization care; assisted reproductive technologies; miscarriage management care; healthcare related to the continuation or termination of pregnancy; or prenatal, intranatal, or postnatal care
National Origin: Your country of origin or ancestry
Order of Protection Status: Whether you have an order of protection
Pregnancy: Pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions
Race: Your actual or perceived racial background
Sex: Your status of being male or female
Sexual Orientation: Your actual or perceived sexual orientation, including heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality
Source of Income: Your lawful source of income (housing context)
Unfavorable Military Discharge: Discharges from the Armed Forces of the United States, their Reserve components, or any National Guard or Naval Militia classified as RE-3 or equivalent, not including those characterized as RE-4 or “Dishonorable”
Work Authorization Status: The status of being born outside of the United States and not a U.S. citizen, who is authorized by the federal government to work in the United States
Not Sure If You Experienced Discrimination?
If you're unsure whether what happened to you is discrimination, we can help you figure it out.
Common signs of discrimination include:
Being treated differently than others in similar situations
Experiencing unfair treatment after disclosing a protected characteristic
Being subjected to different rules or standards
Receiving harsher discipline or scrutiny
Being denied opportunities or services others receive
Experiencing harassment or hostile environment
Facing retaliation after complaining
Still not sure? Contact IDHR and we'll discuss your situation.
Still Have Questions? We're here to help.
Chicago Office
(312) 814-6200
Springfield Office
(217) 785-5100