• GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE FEDERAL AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT CANNOT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A CITIZEN ON THE ACCOUNT OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER IDENTITY, UNLESS THEY CAN JUSTIFY THE DISCRIMINATION IN A COURT OF LAW AS BEING NECESSARY TO FULLFILL A LEGIT INTEREST.  SEE THE APPLICABLE U.S. SUPREME COURT CASES.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY ARE COVERED BY FEDERAL LAW WITH REGARDS TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EMPLOYMENT, PER A U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISION.  SOME STATES HAVE TAKEN THIS DECISION AND APPLIED IT TO OTHER AREAS, SUCH AS HOUSING DISCRIMINATION (I.E. NORTH DAKOTA).  MINNNESOTA'S HUMAN RIGHT ACT HAS INCLUDED SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY SINCE 1993.  WISCONSIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ACT INCLUDES SEXUAL ORIENTATION (SINCE THE 1980s) BUT HAS LIMITED COVERAGE FOR GENDER IDENTITY.   PRIVATE SECTOR DISCRIMINATION IS GENERALLY NOT ILLEGAL WITH RESPECTS TO RELIGIOUS GROUPS, PARTISAN POLITICAL GROUPS, CERTAIN VOLUNTARY CLUBS AND CERTAIN SMALL BUSINESSES.

• EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT