Sec. 2. (a) It is the public policy of the state to provide all of its citizens equal opportunity for education, employment, access to public conveniences and accommodations, and acquisition through purchase or rental of real property, including but not limited to housing, and to eliminate segregation or separation based solely on race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry, since such segregation is an impediment to equal opportunity. Equal education and employment opportunities and equal access to and use of public accommodations and equal opportunity for acquisition of real property are hereby declared to be civil rights.

(b) The practice of denying these rights to properly qualified persons by reason of the race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry of such person is contrary to the principles of freedom and equality of opportunity and is a burden to the objectives of the public policy of this state and shall be considered as discriminatory practices. The promotion of equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry through reasonable methods is the purpose of this chapter.

(c) It is also the public policy of this state to protect employers, labor organizations, employment agencies, property owners, real estate brokers, builders, and lending institutions from unfounded charges of discrimination.

(d) It is hereby declared to be contrary to the public policy of the state and an unlawful practice for any person, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, religion, color, sex, disability, national origin, or ancestry.

(e) The general assembly recognizes that on February 16, 1972, there are institutions of learning in Indiana presently and traditionally following the practice of limiting admission of students to males or to females. It is further recognized that it would be unreasonable to impose upon these institutions the expense of remodeling facilities to accommodate students of both sexes, and that educational facilities of similar quality and type are available in coeducational institutions for those students desiring such facilities. It is further recognized that this chapter is susceptible of interpretation to prevent these institutions from continuing their traditional policies, a result not intended by the general assembly. Therefore, the amendment effected by Acts 1972, P.L.176, is desirable to permit the continuation of the policies described.

(f) It is against the public policy of the state and a discriminatory practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by:

(1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or

(2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or member of a reserve component.

(g) This chapter shall be construed broadly to effectuate its purpose.

Formerly: Acts 1961, c.208, s.2; Acts 1963, c.173, s.2; Acts 1965, c.214, s.1; Acts 1967, c.276, s.1; Acts 1969, c.298, s.1; Acts 1971, P.L.357, SEC.2; Acts 1975, P.L.256, SEC.1. As amended by P.L.5-1988, SEC.116; P.L.23-1993, SEC.130; P.L.136-2014, SEC.2.