The United States, Ohio and some local governments protect people from discrimination based on “protected classes.” These categories include race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), language, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status. The law does not protect people from mean, unprofessional, or uncivil behavior, if it’s not discriminatory in nature. Some laws provide specific protections, such as the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. See below for more specific information.