{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-20-101","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, State Government § 20–101","heading":"","body":"(a) In Subtitles 1 through 11 of this title the following words have the meanings indicated.\n(b) “Commission” means the Commission on Civil Rights.\n(c) “Complainant” means a person that files a complaint alleging a discriminatory act under this title.\n(d) “Discriminatory act” means an act prohibited under:\n(1) Subtitle 3 of this title (Discrimination in Places of Public Accommodation);\n(2) Subtitle 4 of this title (Discrimination by Persons Licensed or Regulated by Maryland Department of Labor);\n(3) Subtitle 5 of this title (Discrimination in Leasing of Commercial Property);\n(4) Subtitle 6 of this title (Discrimination in Employment);\n(5) Subtitle 7 of this title (Discrimination in Housing); or\n(6) Subtitle 8 of this title (Aiding, Abetting, or Attempting Discriminatory Act; Obstructing Compliance).\n(e) “Gender identity” means the gender–related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior of a person, regardless of the person’s assigned sex at birth, which may be demonstrated by:\n(1) consistent and uniform assertion of the person’s gender identity; or\n(2) any other evidence that the gender identity is sincerely held as part of the person’s core identity.\n(f) “Military status” means the status of being:\n(1) a member of the uniformed services;\n(2) a member of a reserve component of the uniformed services; or\n(3) a dependent, as defined in 50 U.S.C. § 3911(4).\n(g) “Protective hairstyle” includes braids, twists, and locks.\n(h) “Race” includes traits associated with race, including hair texture, afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles.\n(i) (1) “Respondent” means a person accused in a complaint of a discriminatory act.\n(2) “Respondent” includes a person identified during an investigation of a complaint and joined as an additional or substitute respondent.\n(j) “Sexual orientation” means the identification of an individual as to male or female homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.","path":["Article - State Government"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gsg\u0026section=20-101","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T20:00:58Z","sha256":"7d221ba8b3965bac1d95d576f3f290b0738162e39df051b179cff09bbdf22b93","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-18-227","next":"us-md/md.-code-state-government-20-201"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}