OHR is at the forefront of eliminating discrimination in the District.  OHR dockets in excess of 300 cases annually. OHR is charged with enforcing the DC Human Rights Act and other local and federal civil rights laws. Recently OHR embarked on a pilot initiative to use a powerful tool that District law makes available to the Director of OHR to investigate a situation in the city that may have risen to the level of discriminatory practices or policies. The purpose of this initiative is very simple: to transform OHR to be a proactive civil rights enforcement arm of District government.

OHR, via the Director’s Inquiries, has been alerted to cutting edge legal and social issues such as rights of same sex couples, Transgender rights and policies that impact immigrant populations. Recent areas of inquiry have included: 

• Source of Income Investigations (District Mortgage Services)
• Sexual Orientation Investigation (District Hospital)
• Disability (Accessibility at District Parking Lots, Taxicabs)
• Age (District Theaters)
• Language Access Compliance (Audit of District agencies)
• Sex (District University)
• Gender Identity (District Businesses)

People that suspect discrimination anywhere in the District, against themselves, a friend, a relative or anyone, can report it by emailing [email protected].