What are the six protected classes for EO?

• A. Race/Ethnicity, Religion, Nationality/Place of Origin, Skin Color, Sex/Gender/Pregnancy, Sexual Orientation
• B. Age, Disability, Gender Identity, Veteran Status, Religion, Race
• C. Race/Ethnicity, Religion, National Origin, Skin Color, Sex, Sexual Orientation
• D. Race, Religion, National Origin, Skin Color, Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation

Answer: (A)

Equal Opportunity protections cover six broad categories of characteristic that cannot be used to discriminate against someone. These six are Race/Ethnicity, Religion, National Origin (place of origin), Skin Color, Sex (including pregnancy and gender identity as part of sex-based protections), and Sexual Orientation. The inclusion of Skin Color recognizes biases that can arise within or across racial groups. Grouping Sex, Gender, and Pregnancy together reflects protections against bias related to a person’s biological sex, gender identity/expression, and pregnancy status. Sexual Orientation protects individuals from discrimination based on who they are attracted to. This set isn’t about other potential protected traits like age or disability, which fall under different policy areas, so the six listed here are the ones designated for EO in this context.