Governing statute and enforcement agency
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 659A prohibits unlawful discrimination in employment. ORS 659A.030 bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age (18 or older), and expunged juvenile record, and applies to employers with one or more employees. Discrimination based on disability (ORS 659A.112) and uniformed service (ORS 659A.082) is unlawful only for employers with six or more employees. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) enforces Chapter 659A through its Civil Rights Division, which investigates complaints and may order remedies. Employees may also file a civil action in court.
Race definition — protective hairstyles and natural hair
Oregon law defines "race" to include physical characteristics historically associated with race, including natural hair, hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles. ORS 659A.001(11) defines "protective hairstyle" to mean a hairstyle, hair color, or manner of wearing hair that includes, but is not limited to, braids (whether created with extensions or styled with adornments), locs, and twists. This expanded definition means discrimination based on an employee's natural hair or protective hairstyle is unlawful race discrimination under ORS 659A.030.
Source: ORS 659A.001