775 ILCS 5/1-103
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 775 - HUMAN RIGHTS|775 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Human Rights Act.|Article 1 - General Provisions

(775 ILCS 5/1-103) (from Ch. 68, par. 1-103)(Text of Section from P.A. 101-656)Sec. 1-103. General definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the  context requires otherwise, the term:(A) Age.  "Age" means the chronological age of a person who is at least  40 years old, except with regard to any practice described in Section  2-102, insofar as that practice concerns training or apprenticeship  programs. In the case of training or apprenticeship programs, for the  purposes of Section 2-102, "age" means the chronological age of a person  who is 18 but not yet 40 years old.(B) Aggrieved party. "Aggrieved party" means a person who is alleged  or proved to have been injured by a civil rights violation or believes he  or she will be injured by a civil rights violation under Article 3 that is  about to occur.(B-5) Arrest record. "Arrest record" means:(1) an arrest not leading to a conviction;(2) a juvenile record; or(3) criminal history record information ordered     expunged, sealed, or impounded under Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.(C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the Department  by an aggrieved party or initiated by the Department under its  authority.(D) Civil rights violation. "Civil rights violation" includes and  shall be limited to only those specific acts set forth in Sections  2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-102.1, 3-103, 3-104, 3-104.1, 3-105, 3-105.1, 4-102, 4-103,  5-102, 5A-102, 6-101, and 6-102 of this Act.(E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights Commission  created by this Act.(F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading filed by  the Department with the Commission following an investigation and  finding of substantial evidence of a civil rights violation.(G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including the  Department who files a charge of civil rights violation with the Department or  the Commission.(G-5) Conviction record. "Conviction record" means information indicating that a person has been convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or other criminal offense, placed on probation, fined, imprisoned, or paroled pursuant to any law enforcement or military authority.(H) Department. "Department" means the Department of Human Rights  created by this Act.(I) Disability. "Disability" means a determinable physical or mental  characteristic of a person, including, but not limited to, a determinable  physical characteristic which necessitates the person's use of a guide,  hearing or support dog, the history of such characteristic, or the  perception of such characteristic by the person complained against, which  may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or  functional disorder and which characteristic:(1) For purposes of Article 2, is unrelated to the     person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this Act, a person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a disability;(2) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the     person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain a housing accommodation;(3) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a     person's ability to repay;(4) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a     person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of public accommodation;(5) For purposes of Article 5, also includes any     mental, psychological, or developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorders.(J) Marital status. "Marital status" means the legal status of being  married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed.(J-1) Military status.  "Military status" means a person's status on  active duty in or status as a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, status as a current member or veteran of any  reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the United  States Army Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Navy  Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve, and United States Coast Guard  Reserve, or status as a current member or veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard or Illinois Air National  Guard.(K) National origin. "National origin" means the place in which a  person or one of his or her ancestors was born.(K-5) "Order of protection status" means a person's status as being a person protected  under an order of protection issued pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, Article 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act, or an order of protection issued by a court of another state.(L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships,  associations or organizations, labor organizations, labor unions, joint  apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations, corporations, the  State of Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions, units  of local government, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy  or receivers.(L-5) Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.(M) Public contract. "Public contract" includes every contract to which the  State, any of its political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation is a  party.(N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of religious observance  and practice, as well as belief, except that with respect to employers, for  the purposes of Article 2, "religion" has the meaning ascribed to it in  paragraph (F) of Section 2-101.(O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.(O-1) Sexual orientation.  "Sexual orientation" means actual or  perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity,  whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at  birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.(P) Unfavorable military discharge. "Unfavorable military discharge"  includes discharges from the Armed Forces of the United States, their  Reserve components, or any National Guard or Naval Militia which are  classified as RE-3 or the equivalent thereof, but does not include those  characterized as RE-4 or "Dishonorable".(Q) Unlawful discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination" means discrimination  against a person because of his or her actual or perceived:  race, color, religion, national origin,  ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual  orientation, pregnancy,  or unfavorable  discharge from military service as those terms are defined in this Section.    (Source: P.A. 100-714, eff. 1-1-19; 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-565, eff. 1-1-20; 101-656, eff. 3-23-21.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-362)Sec. 1-103. General definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the  context requires otherwise, the term:(A) Age.  "Age" means the chronological age of a person who is at least  40 years old, except with regard to any practice described in Section  2-102, insofar as that practice concerns training or apprenticeship  programs. In the case of training or apprenticeship programs, for the  purposes of Section 2-102, "age" means the chronological age of a person  who is 18 but not yet 40 years old.(B) Aggrieved party. "Aggrieved party" means a person who is alleged  or proved to have been injured by a civil rights violation or believes he  or she will be injured by a civil rights violation under Article 3 that is  about to occur.(B-5) Arrest record. "Arrest record" means:(1) an arrest not leading to a conviction;(2) a juvenile record; or(3) criminal history record information ordered     expunged, sealed, or impounded under Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.(C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the Department  by an aggrieved party or initiated by the Department under its  authority.(D) Civil rights violation. "Civil rights violation" includes and  shall be limited to only those specific acts set forth in Sections  2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-102.1, 3-103, 3-102.10, 3-104.1, 3-105, 3-105.1, 4-102, 4-103,  5-102, 5A-102, 6-101, 6-101.5, and 6-102 of this Act.(E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights Commission  created by this Act.(F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading filed by  the Department with the Commission following an investigation and  finding of substantial evidence of a civil rights violation.(G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including the  Department who files a charge of civil rights violation with the Department or  the Commission.(H) Department. "Department" means the Department of Human Rights  created by this Act.(I) Disability. "Disability" means a determinable physical or mental  characteristic of a person, including, but not limited to, a determinable  physical characteristic which necessitates the person's use of a guide,  hearing or support dog, the history of such characteristic, or the  perception of such characteristic by the person complained against, which  may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or  functional disorder and which characteristic:(1) For purposes of Article 2, is unrelated to the     person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this Act, a person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a disability;(2) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the     person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain a housing accommodation;(3) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a     person's ability to repay;(4) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a     person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of public accommodation;(5) For purposes of Article 5, also includes any     mental, psychological, or developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorders.(J) Marital status. "Marital status" means the legal status of being  married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed.(J-1) Military status.  "Military status" means a person's status on  active duty in or status as a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, status as a current member or veteran of any  reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the United  States Army Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Navy  Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve, and United States Coast Guard  Reserve, or status as a current member or veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard or Illinois Air National  Guard.(K) National origin. "National origin" means the place in which a  person or one of his or her ancestors was born.(K-5) "Order of protection status" means a person's status as being a person protected  under an order of protection issued pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, Article 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act, or an order of protection issued by a court of another state.(L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships,  associations or organizations, labor organizations, labor unions, joint  apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations, corporations, the  State of Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions, units  of local government, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy  or receivers.(L-5) Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.(M) Public contract. "Public contract" includes every contract to which the  State, any of its political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation is a  party.(N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of religious observance  and practice, as well as belief, except that with respect to employers, for  the purposes of Article 2, "religion" has the meaning ascribed to it in  paragraph (F) of Section 2-101.(O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.(O-1) Sexual orientation.  "Sexual orientation" means actual or  perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity,  whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at  birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.(P) Unfavorable military discharge. "Unfavorable military discharge"  includes discharges from the Armed Forces of the United States, their  Reserve components, or any National Guard or Naval Militia which are  classified as RE-3 or the equivalent thereof, but does not include those  characterized as RE-4 or "Dishonorable".(Q) Unlawful discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination" means discrimination  against a person because of his or her actual or perceived:  race, color, religion, national origin,  ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual  orientation, pregnancy,  or unfavorable  discharge from military service as those terms are defined in this Section.    (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-565, eff. 1-1-20; 102-362, eff. 1-1-22.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-419)Sec. 1-103. General definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the  context requires otherwise, the term:(A) Age.  "Age" means the chronological age of a person who is at least  40 years old, except with regard to any practice described in Section  2-102, insofar as that practice concerns training or apprenticeship  programs. In the case of training or apprenticeship programs, for the  purposes of Section 2-102, "age" means the chronological age of a person  who is 18 but not yet 40 years old.(B) Aggrieved party. "Aggrieved party" means a person who is alleged  or proved to have been injured by a civil rights violation or believes he  or she will be injured by a civil rights violation under Article 3 that is  about to occur.(B-5) Arrest record. "Arrest record" means:(1) an arrest not leading to a conviction;(2) a juvenile record; or(3) criminal history record information ordered     expunged, sealed, or impounded under Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.(C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the Department  by an aggrieved party or initiated by the Department under its  authority.(D) Civil rights violation. "Civil rights violation" includes and  shall be limited to only those specific acts set forth in Sections  2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-102.1, 3-103, 3-104, 3-104.1, 3-105, 3-105.1, 4-102, 4-103,  5-102, 5A-102, 6-101, and 6-102 of this Act.(E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights Commission  created by this Act.(F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading filed by  the Department with the Commission following an investigation and  finding of substantial evidence of a civil rights violation.(G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including the  Department who files a charge of civil rights violation with the Department or  the Commission.(H) Department. "Department" means the Department of Human Rights  created by this Act.(I) Disability.(1) "Disability" means a determinable physical or mental  characteristic of a person, including, but not limited to, a determinable  physical characteristic which necessitates the person's use of a guide,  hearing or support dog, the history of such characteristic, or the  perception of such characteristic by the person complained against, which  may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or  functional disorder and which characteristic:(a) For purposes of Article 2, is unrelated to the     person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this Act, a person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a disability;(b) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the     person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain a housing accommodation;(c) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a     person's ability to repay;(d) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a     person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of public accommodation;(e) For purposes of Article 5, also includes any     mental, psychological, or developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorders.(2) Discrimination based on disability includes unlawful discrimination against an individual because of the individual's association with a person with a disability.(J) Marital status. "Marital status" means the legal status of being  married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed.(J-1) Military status.  "Military status" means a person's status on  active duty in or status as a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, status as a current member or veteran of any  reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the United  States Army Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Navy  Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve, and United States Coast Guard  Reserve, or status as a current member or veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard or Illinois Air National  Guard.(K) National origin. "National origin" means the place in which a  person or one of his or her ancestors was born.(K-5) "Order of protection status" means a person's status as being a person protected  under an order of protection issued pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, Article 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act, or an order of protection issued by a court of another state.(L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships,  associations or organizations, labor organizations, labor unions, joint  apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations, corporations, the  State of Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions, units  of local government, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy  or receivers.(L-5) Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.(M) Public contract. "Public contract" includes every contract to which the  State, any of its political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation is a  party.(N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of religious observance  and practice, as well as belief, except that with respect to employers, for  the purposes of Article 2, "religion" has the meaning ascribed to it in  paragraph (F) of Section 2-101.(O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.(O-1) Sexual orientation.  "Sexual orientation" means actual or  perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity,  whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at  birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.(P) Unfavorable military discharge. "Unfavorable military discharge"  includes discharges from the Armed Forces of the United States, their  Reserve components, or any National Guard or Naval Militia which are  classified as RE-3 or the equivalent thereof, but does not include those  characterized as RE-4 or "Dishonorable".(Q) Unlawful discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination" means discrimination  against a person because of his or her actual or perceived:  race, color, religion, national origin,  ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual  orientation, pregnancy,  or unfavorable  discharge from military service as those terms are defined in this Section.    (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-565, eff. 1-1-20; 102-419, eff. 1-1-22.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-558)Sec. 1-103. General definitions.  When used in this Act, unless the  context requires otherwise, the term:(A) Age.  "Age" means the chronological age of a person who is at least  40 years old, except with regard to any practice described in Section  2-102, insofar as that practice concerns training or apprenticeship  programs. In the case of training or apprenticeship programs, for the  purposes of Section 2-102, "age" means the chronological age of a person  who is 18 but not yet 40 years old.(B) Aggrieved party. "Aggrieved party" means a person who is alleged  or proved to have been injured by a civil rights violation or believes he  or she will be injured by a civil rights violation under Article 3 that is  about to occur.(B-5) Arrest record. "Arrest record" means:(1) an arrest not leading to a conviction;(2) a juvenile record; or(3) criminal history record information ordered     expunged, sealed, or impounded under Section 5.2 of the Criminal Identification Act.(C) Charge. "Charge" means an allegation filed with the Department  by an aggrieved party or initiated by the Department under its  authority.(D) Civil rights violation. "Civil rights violation" includes and  shall be limited to only those specific acts set forth in Sections  2-102, 2-103, 2-105, 3-102, 3-102.1, 3-103, 3-104, 3-104.1, 3-105, 3-105.1, 4-102, 4-103,  5-102, 5A-102, 6-101, and 6-102 of this Act.(E) Commission. "Commission" means the Human Rights Commission  created by this Act.(F) Complaint. "Complaint" means the formal pleading filed by  the Department with the Commission following an investigation and  finding of substantial evidence of a civil rights violation.(G) Complainant. "Complainant" means a person including the  Department who files a charge of civil rights violation with the Department or  the Commission.(H) Department. "Department" means the Department of Human Rights  created by this Act.(I) Disability. "Disability" means a determinable physical or mental  characteristic of a person, including, but not limited to, a determinable  physical characteristic which necessitates the person's use of a guide,  hearing or support dog, the history of such characteristic, or the  perception of such characteristic by the person complained against, which  may result from disease, injury, congenital condition of birth or  functional disorder and which characteristic:(1) For purposes of Article 2, is unrelated to the     person's ability to perform the duties of a particular job or position and, pursuant to Section 2-104 of this Act, a person's illegal use of drugs or alcohol is not a disability;(2) For purposes of Article 3, is unrelated to the     person's ability to acquire, rent, or maintain a housing accommodation;(3) For purposes of Article 4, is unrelated to a     person's ability to repay;(4) For purposes of Article 5, is unrelated to a     person's ability to utilize and benefit from a place of public accommodation;(5) For purposes of Article 5, also includes any     mental, psychological, or developmental disability, including autism spectrum disorders.(J) Marital status. "Marital status" means the legal status of being  married, single, separated, divorced, or widowed.(J-1) Military status.  "Military status" means a person's status on  active duty in or status as a veteran of the armed forces of the United States, status as a current member or veteran of any  reserve component of the armed forces of the United States, including the United  States Army Reserve, United States Marine Corps Reserve, United States Navy  Reserve, United States Air Force Reserve, and United States Coast Guard  Reserve, or status as a current member or veteran of the Illinois Army National Guard or Illinois Air National  Guard.(K) National origin. "National origin" means the place in which a  person or one of his or her ancestors was born.(K-5) "Order of protection status" means a person's status as being a person protected  under an order of protection issued pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, Article 112A of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Stalking No Contact Order Act, or the Civil No Contact Order Act, or an order of protection issued by a court of another state.(L) Person. "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships,  associations or organizations, labor organizations, labor unions, joint  apprenticeship committees, or union labor associations, corporations, the  State of Illinois and its instrumentalities, political subdivisions, units  of local government, legal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy  or receivers.(L-5) Pregnancy. "Pregnancy" means pregnancy, childbirth, or medical or common conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.(M) Public contract. "Public contract" includes every contract to which the  State, any of its political subdivisions, or any municipal corporation is a  party.(N) Religion. "Religion" includes all aspects of religious observance  and practice, as well as belief, except that with respect to employers, for  the purposes of Article 2, "religion" has the meaning ascribed to it in  paragraph (F) of Section 2-101.(O) Sex. "Sex" means the status of being male or female.(O-1) Sexual orientation.  "Sexual orientation" means actual or  perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality, or gender-related identity,  whether or not traditionally associated with the person's designated sex at  birth. "Sexual orientation" does not include a physical or sexual attraction to a minor by an adult.(P) Unfavorable military discharge. "Unfavorable military discharge"  includes discharges from the Armed Forces of the United States, their  Reserve components, or any National Guard or Naval Militia which are  classified as RE-3 or the equivalent thereof, but does not include those  characterized as RE-4 or "Dishonorable".(Q) Unlawful discrimination. "Unlawful discrimination" means discrimination  against a person because of his or her actual or perceived:  race, color, religion, national origin,  ancestry, age, sex, marital status, order of protection status, disability, military status, sexual  orientation, pregnancy,  or unfavorable  discharge from military service as those terms are defined in this Section.    (Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-565, eff. 1-1-20; 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)