Civil Rights Laws in Rhode Island.

Prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, age (40+), disability, country of ancestral origin, and membership in armed forces. Applies to employers with 4+ employees.

Prohibits housing discrimination based on protected classes including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, disability, familial status, and housing status.

Rhode Island added sexual orientation to FEPA in 1995 — among the early states to do so.

Rhode Island added gender identity or expression as a protected class in 2001 — among the first states to do so.

Provides a private cause of action for employment discrimination and other civil-rights violations with jury trial and compensatory/punitive damages. Parallel remedy to FEPA.