Sexual Orientation

Frequently Asked Questions

• How is sexual orientation defined?

  Sexual orientation refers to an individual's physical, romantic, and/or emotional attraction to people of the same and/or different gender. Examples of sexual orientations include straight (or heterosexual), lesbian, gay and bisexual.

• Is it unlawful to discriminate against an apprentice or applicant because of the individual's sexual orientation?

  Yes, discrimination against an apprentice or applicant on the basis of sexual orientation is unlawful under the apprenticeship Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) regulations. Any apprenticeship program that is registered with the Office of Apprenticeship (OA), or with a State Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) that adopts the EEO regulations, must avoid such discrimination in its program.

• What employment practices are covered by the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation?

  The apprenticeship EEO regulations forbid discrimination in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoff, training, fringe benefits, and any other term or condition of employment. Additionally, they forbid harassment against an apprentice or applicant on the basis of sexual orientation. A harasser or the target of such harassment may be either a woman or a man, and the target and harasser may be the same sex.