Indiana Code

Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2 (2026)

Public policy; construction of chapter

✓ current as of May 2026

Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section JustiaInd. Code CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar

Sec. 2. (a) It is the public policy of the state to provide all of its citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public conveniences and accommodations, and acquisition through purchase or rental of real property, including but not limited to housing, and to eliminate segregation or separation based solely on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry, since such segregation is an impediment to equal opportunity. Equal education and employment opportunities and equal access to and use of public accommodations and equal opportunity for acquisition of real property are hereby declared to be civil rights.

(b) The practice of denying these rights to properly qualified persons by reason of the race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry of such person is contrary to the principles of freedom and equality of opportunity and is a burden to the objectives of the public policy of this state and shall be considered as discriminatory practices. The promotion of equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry through reasonable methods is the purpose of this chapter.

(c) It is also the public policy of this state to protect employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, property owners, real estate brokers, builders, and lending institutions from unfounded charges of discrimination.

(d) It is hereby declared to be contrary to the public policy of the state and an unlawful practice for any person, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry.

(e) The general assembly recognizes that on February 16, 1972, there are institutions of learning in Indiana presently and traditionally following the practice of limiting admission of students to males or to females. It is further recognized that it would be unreasonable to impose upon these institutions the expense of remodeling facilities to accommodate students of both sexes, and that educational facilities of similar quality and type are available in coeducational institutions for those students desiring such facilities. It is further recognized that this chapter is susceptible of interpretation to prevent these institutions from continuing their traditional policies, a result not intended by the general assembly. Therefore, the amendment effected by Acts 1972, P.L.176, is desirable to permit the continuation of the policies described.

(f) It is against the public policy of the state and a discriminatory practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by:

(1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or

(2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or member of a reserve component.

(g) This chapter shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purpose.

Formerly: Acts 1961, c.208, s.2; Acts 1963, c.173, s.2; Acts 1965, c.214, s.1; Acts 1967, c.276, s.1; Acts 1969, c.298, s.1; Acts 1971, P.L.357, SEC.2; Acts 1975, P.L.256, SEC.1. As amended by P.L.5-1988, SEC.116; P.L.23-1993, SEC.130; P.L.136-2014, SEC.2.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 35 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 1974–2025 · leading case: Filter Specialists, Inc. v. Brooks, 879 N.E.2d 558 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Filter Specialists, Inc. v. Brooks, 879 N.E.2d 558 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 12× “See Ind.Code §§ 22-9-1-2, -12.1(b). These local commissions are specifically granted the power to order payment of damages caused by discriminatory practices and to "institute actions for appropriate legal or equitable relief in a circuit or superior court.”

Montgomery v. Bd. of Trs. of Purdue Univ., 849 N.E.2d 1120 (Ind. 2006). · cites it 4× “I.C. §§ 22-9-1-2, 22-9-1-3. The ICRL expressly authorizes civil suits by private litigants and sets out procedural prerequisites to bringing suit not unlike those provided by the federal ADEA.”

Creasy v. Rusk, 730 N.E.2d 659 (Ind. 2000). · cites it 4× “, Ind.Code § 22-9-1-2 (1998) (declaring that the public policy of Indiana is to provide equal opportunity in education, employment, and access to public conveniences and accommodations, and to eliminate segregation or separation based on, among other things, disability; defining…”

Filter Specialists, Inc. v. Brooks, 906 N.E.2d 835 (Ind. 2009). · cites it 2× “§ 22-9-1-2] 5 without conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter.”

In Re the Appeal of Associated Sign & Post, Inc, 485 N.E.2d 917 (Ind. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 4× “Indiana Code section 22-9-1-2 (Burns Supp.1985), expresses that policy in the clearest possible terms when it states: "(a) It is the public policy of the state of Indiana to provide all of its citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public conveniences…”

Fishers Adolescent Catholic Enrichment Soc'y, Inc. v. Elizabeth Bridgewater o/b/o Alyssa Bridgewater, 990 N.E.2d 29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 6× “The purpose of the civil rights law is set forth in Indiana Code section 22-9-1-2 and provides: Sec. 2. (a) It is the public policy of the state to provide all of its citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public conveniences and accommodations .”

Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n v. Alder, 714 N.E.2d 632 (Ind. 1999). · cites it 2× “The General Assembly has directed us to construe the Civil Rights Law “broadly to effectuate its purpose” and defined “complainant” as “any individual” “personally aggrieved by a discriminatory practice” Ind.Code §§ 22-9-1-2(f) & 22-9-1-3(n)(1) (1998).”

Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n v. Washburn Realtors, Inc., 610 N.E.2d 293 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 4× “Indiana Code § 22-9-1-2(f) specifically directs that this state's Civil Rights Act "shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purpose.”

Indiana Dep't of Corr. v. Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n, 486 N.E.2d 612 (Ind. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 2× “Judge Garrard, writing for the third district in Midwest Steel, concluded that when the statutorily delegated powers of the ICRC were examined, particularly in light of the demands of Indiana Code section 22-9-1-2(e) (Burns Supp.”

United Farm Bureau Mut. Ins. Co., Inc. v. Metro. Human Relations Comm'n, 24 F.3d 1008 (7th Cir. 1994). “Farm Bureau makes much of the fact that insurance is not specifically mentioned in Indiana Code § 22-9-1-2, concluding that the legislature could not have intended to include insurance.”

United States v. Shalynda Harris, 197 F.3d 870 (7th Cir. 1999). “5/2-105; Ind.Code 22-9-1-2; Wis. Stat. § 106.04 ; Cal.”

Fort Wayne Metro. Human Relations Comm'n v. Marathon Gas Station, 926 N.E.2d 1085 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “§ 22-9-1-2] 2 without conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter.”

Show all 35 citing cases →

— Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2(a) — 7 cases

Filter Specialists, Inc. v. Brooks, 906 N.E.2d 835 (Ind. 2009). “§ 22-9-1-2] 5 without conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter.”

Barrick Realty, Inc. v. City of Gary, Indiana, 491 F.2d 161 (7th Cir. 1974).

Fort Wayne Metro. Human Relations Comm'n v. Marathon Gas Station, 926 N.E.2d 1085 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010). “§ 22-9-1-2] 2 without conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter.”

Weatherbee v. Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n, 665 N.E.2d 945 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996).

Fishers Adolescent Catholic Enrichment Soc'y, Inc. v. Elizabeth Bridgewater o/b/o Alyssa Bridgewater, 23 N.E.3d 1 (Ind. 2015).

— Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2(b) — 1 case

Cardinal Ritter High Sch., Inc. v. Aleesha Bullock, 17 N.E.3d 281 (Ind. Ct. App. 2014).

— Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2(c) — 3 cases

Filter Specialists, Inc. v. Brooks, 879 N.E.2d 558 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). “See Ind.Code §§ 22-9-1-2, -12.1(b). These local commissions are specifically granted the power to order payment of damages caused by discriminatory practices and to "institute actions for appropriate legal or equitable relief in a circuit or superior court.”

Weatherbee v. Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n, 665 N.E.2d 945 (Ind. Ct. App. 1996).

Indiana Bell Tel. Co. Inc. v. Boyd, 421 N.E.2d 660 (Ind. Ct. App. 1981).

— Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2(e) — 1 case

Indiana Dep't of Corr. v. Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n, 486 N.E.2d 612 (Ind. Ct. App. 1985). “Judge Garrard, writing for the third district in Midwest Steel, concluded that when the statutorily delegated powers of the ICRC were examined, particularly in light of the demands of Indiana Code section 22-9-1-2(e) (Burns Supp.”

— Ind. Code § 22-9-1-2(f) — 3 cases

Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n v. Alder, 714 N.E.2d 632 (Ind. 1999). “The General Assembly has directed us to construe the Civil Rights Law “broadly to effectuate its purpose” and defined “complainant” as “any individual” “personally aggrieved by a discriminatory practice” Ind.Code §§ 22-9-1-2(f) & 22-9-1-3(n)(1) (1998).”

Indiana Civil Rights Comm'n v. Washburn Realtors, Inc., 610 N.E.2d 293 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993). “Indiana Code § 22-9-1-2(f) specifically directs that this state's Civil Rights Act "shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purpose.”

Fishers Adolescent Catholic Enrichment Soc'y, Inc. v. Elizabeth Bridgewater o/b/o Alyssa Bridgewater, 990 N.E.2d 29 (Ind. Ct. App. 2013). “The purpose of the civil rights law is set forth in Indiana Code section 22-9-1-2 and provides: Sec. 2. (a) It is the public policy of the state to provide all of its citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public conveniences and accommodations .”

Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.