What is Discrimination? (d) Discrimination: unfavorable treatment of a person based on that person's membership or perceived membership in a protected class.Discrimination is defined as treating members of a protected category less favorably because of their actual or perceived membership in that category. Uniformly, the laws prohibit discrimination based on race, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, and age. Clark University strongly encourages anyone who has information about sexual misconduct that may also be a crime to report it to the Clark University Police. The U.S. Supreme Court Finally Addresses Discrimination Against LGBTQ Employees: What the Court's Opinion Means and Where Employers Go From Here. Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Title VII Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Equality Act sets out your responsibilities as an employer and how you provide services to the public. Discrimination laws have an influence on the employment process, beginning with hiring.