Articles Discussing Connecticut's HRO Law.

Executive Summary: For decades fitness facilities have been offering “women-only” sections, allowing women to exercise in private without self-image worries or unwanted male attention. But these sections are now in jeopardy as the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities (CHRO) brings a case against two prominent Connecticut gyms, Edge Fitness and Club Fitness, to the Connecticut Supreme Court, asserting that such sections amount to illegal sex discrimination against men. This is an issue of first impression.

Connecticut has joined the growing list of states that prohibit discrimination on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including hair. On March 10, 2021, Connecticut adopted legislation to ban natural hair discrimination in the workplace.

Legislation significantly amending the procedures governing how the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities will process complaints takes effect October 1, 2011. Although new Public Act No. 11-237 is an attempt to shorten the time that a charge remains pending at the CHRO once a merit assessment review is completed, how well it accomplishes this is open to question. The amendments include significant changes that allow the CHRO’s attorneys to reinstate a complaint that was dismissed at the merit assessment review stage and explicitly authorize agency investigators to conduct interviews and site visits, subpoena documents, seek requests for admission of facts, and issue interrogatories.