FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 29, 2014
CONTACT: Elliot Imse, Director of Policy and Communications – 202.481.3773; [email protected]
More than almost any other city in the nation, the civil rights laws of the District of Columbia provide strong protections that allow individuals to live free from discrimination, and to seek justice if that freedom is violated. A new campaign launched today by the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) aims to educate residents about those protections by highlighting the 19 traits covered under the DC Human Rights Act – the District’s anti-discrimination law. Appearing throughout the Metro system during October, the #DC19 campaign uses icons and simple messages to quickly convey anti-discrimination protections to passing commuters.
“Residents and visitors to the District are extremely fortunate to be protected by one of the most progressive anti-discrimination laws in the nation,” said OHR Director Mónica Palacio. “Our new #DC19 campaign aims to inform and remind people that discrimination based on traits related to physical appearance and other identities is not tolerated in the District, and that individuals can file complaints with the Office of Human Rights when discrimination occurs.”
Eight different non-discrimination advertisements will appear in 14 Metro stations. One advertisement, focusing on disability protections, features icons of a person in a seat and of a person in a wheelchair with the tagline: “You’re protected no matter where you sit.” Other protected traits appearing in the Metro system include age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex and sexual orientation. Advertisements featuring additional traits will be released on OHR’s social media throughout October.
The #DC19 campaign is part of a larger OHR effort to prevent discrimination through public education and to encourage those discriminated against to file complaints with the office. Complaints of discrimination are investigated by the office at no cost, allowing people of all socioeconomic statuses to seek justice if they believe they’ve been discriminated against. Complaints can be filed online at ohr.dc.gov/page/complaints, or by visiting the OHR office at 441 4th Street NW, Suite 570N.
The complete #DC 19 campaign can be seen online at ohr.dc.gov/DC19.
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