Getting Started

Let’s get started by reviewing the definition for each of the following protected characteristics. Click each characteristic below to learn more.

+ Gender Identity

+ Gender Expression

+ Sexual Orientation

Gender Identity

“Gender Identity” is a person’s internal understanding of their gender, or the perception of a person’s gender identity, which may include male, female, a combination of male and female, neither male nor female, a gender different from the person’s sex assigned at birth, or transgender.

Gender Expression

“Gender Expression” means a person’s gender-related appearance and behavior, or the perception of such appearance or behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.

Sexual Orientation

“Sexual Orientation” is a person’s emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to another person. Types of sexual orientation include, but are not limited to, heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, pansexuality (people who have romantic, sexual or affectional desire for people of all genders and sexes) and asexuality (people who do not feel sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality).