Civil Rights Enforcement

Civil Rights Enforcement image two individuals discussing civil rights

Housing

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Fair Housing Act), state law (Texas Fair Housing Act) and city ordinance (Human Relations Ordinance) prohibit discrimination of people in housing because of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and/or familial status. The city’s Human Relations Ordinance also includes protection from discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity and/or gender expression. 

These laws cover virtually all housing — private homes, apartment complexes and condominium developments — and nearly all  housing transactions including renting and selling houses and providing mortgage loans.

The City of Fort Worth is a U.S. Housing and Urban Development Fair Housing Assistance Program with the authority to investigate federal fair housing complaints. For more information about the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance or to report a housing discrimination, call 817-392-7525 and/or visit the Diversity & Inclusion webpage.

 

 

Employment

Numerous federal laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, state law (Texas Labor Code), and the city’s Human Relations Ordinance, protect people from difference in treatment in their employment because of their race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age (over the age of 40) and disability. The city’s Human Relations Ordinance also protects people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity and/or gender expression. An employer cannot base a decision to hire or fire, promote or transfer on any of these protected bases.

The City of Fort Worth is authorized by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as a Fair Employment Practice Agency to investigate fair employment complaints.

 

Public Accommodation

Several federal laws, including Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as Fort Worth’s Human Relations Ordinance, prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability and age in the advantages, facilities or services offered to the general public by a place of public accommodation. The city’s Human Relations Ordinance also protects people from discrimination in places of public accommodation based on their sexual orientation, transgender status, gender identity and/or gender expression.

 

 

Resources