Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 46a — HUMAN RIGHTS · Chapter 814c — Human Rights and Opportunities
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-81c (2026)

Sexual orientation discrimination: Employment

✓ current as of May 2026
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It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: (1) For an employer, by himself or his agent, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment any individual or to discriminate against him in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment because of the individual's sexual orientation or civil union status, (2) for any employment agency, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, to fail or refuse to classify properly or refer for employment or otherwise to discriminate against any individual because of the individual's sexual orientation or civil union status, (3) for a labor organization, because of the sexual orientation or civil union status of any individual to exclude from full membership rights or to expel from its membership such individual or to discriminate in any way against any of its members or against any employer or any individual employed by an employer, unless such action is based on a bona fide occupational qualification, or (4) for any person, employer, employment agency or labor organization, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, to advertise employment opportunities in such a manner as to restrict such employment so as to discriminate against individuals because of their sexual orientation or civil union status.

(P.A. 91-58, S. 3; P.A. 07-245, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 07-245 added references to “civil union status”, effective July 10, 2007.

Cited. 226 C. 670; 232 C. 91; 236 C. 96; Id., 453. The phrase “terms, conditions or privileges of employment” in Subdiv. (1) constitutes a term of art in antidiscrimination law, with a fixed legal meaning, and legislature's use of phrase evidences its intent to permit hostile work environment claims by employees who are subject to sexual orientation discrimination; it is proper to look at Sec. 46a-60(a)(1) when interpreting Subdiv. (1) of this section. 304 C. 679.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1993–2021 · leading case: Patino v. Birken Mfg. Co., 41 A.3d 1013 (Conn. 2012).
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Patino v. Birken Mfg. Co., 41 A.3d 1013 (Conn. 2012). · cites it 38× “[2] General Statutes § 46a-81c provides in relevant part: "It shall be a discriminatory practice in violation of this section: (1) For an employer, by himself or his agent .”
Kerrigan v. Comm'r of Pub. Health, 957 A.2d 407 (Conn. 2008). · cites it 8× “*448 This public policy extends to a wide range of activities, including membership in licensed professional associations; see General Statutes § 46a-81b; employment; see General Statutes § 46a-81c; public accommodations; see General Statutes § 46a-81d; housing; see General…”
Gay & Lesbian Law Students Ass'n v. Bd. of Trs., 673 A.2d 484 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 7× “” General Statutes § 46a-81c provides: “Sexual orientation discrimination: Employment.”
Bostock v. Clayton Cnty., 140 S. Ct. 1731 (2020). “); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46a-81c (2017) (prohibiting discrimination because of "sexual orientation"); Del.”
Jones v. Dept. of Child. & Families, 158 A.3d 356 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 4× “Specifically, the plaintiff argues that the court "conflated" the two different analyses used to review a discrimination claim, and thereby incorrectly imposed on the plaintiff the burden of proving both the falsity of the defendant's reasons for terminating his employment, as…”
Bridgeport Hosp. v. Comm'n on Human Rights & Opportunities, 653 A.2d 782 (Conn. 1995). · cites it 3× “” General Statutes § 46a-81c provides: “sexual orientation discrimination: employment.”
Wilhelm v. Sunrise Ne., Inc., 923 F. Supp. 330 (D. Conn. 1995). · cites it 12× “Also in Count One he claims Sunrise violated CGS § 46a-81c, which forbids discrimination by an employer on account of sexual orientation.”
Bogdahn v. Hamilton Stan. Space Sys., No. Cv 97-0569864-S (July 21, 1999), 741 A.2d 1003 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1999). · cites it 13× “The claim against Hamilton is that it discriminated against Pelletier in terms, conditions or privileges of employment by failing to protect him properly against sexual orientation discrimination in violation of General Statutes § 46a-81c (1), and failed to protect him properly…”
Levy v. Comm'n on Human Rights & Opportunities, 671 A.2d 349 (Conn. 1996). · cites it 2× “I Connecticut statutorily prohibits discrimination in employment based upon race, color, religious creed, age, sex, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, mental retardation, and learning disability or physical disability.”
Dep't of Admin. Servs. v. Employees' Review Bd., 628 A.2d 957 (Conn. 1993). · cites it 3× “Section 46a-51 (7) has been amended so that it now also references discriminatory practices specified in General Statutes § 46a-81c. Section 46a-81c bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.”
Comm'n on Human Rights & Opportunities v. Cantillon, 207 Conn. App. 668 (Conn. App. Ct. 2021). · cites it 3× “In Patino, the central issue on appeal was ‘‘whether General Statutes § 46a-81c (1) imposes liabil- ity on employers for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent their employees from being subjected to hostile work environments based on their sexual orientation.”
DeMoss v. Norwalk Bd. of Ed., 21 F. Supp. 3d 154 (D. Conn. 2014). · cites it 2× “CFEPA broadly prohibits discrimination by an employer based on an individual’s “race, color, religious creed, age, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disability, intellectual disability, learning…”
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