Human Rights & Equity

Any person can file a Complaint of Discrimination with the Investigations Unit if the incident of alleged discrimination occurred in Howard County.  The Complaint must be filed within 6 months (Employment, Public Accommodation, Finance and Law Enforcement) or within 1 year (Housing) of the alleged discrimination. In the case of Employment discrimination, the employer must have 5 or more employees.

The Community Outreach Unit increases the presence of the Office of Human Rights & Equity within the Howard County, Maryland community by creating opportunities for residents to affirm their humanity while protecting that of their neighbor's. The Outreach Unit accomplishes this by providing trainings and workshops, listening sessions, and events to government agencies, organizations, and community members around racial equity, social justice, and human relations. 

The Equity and Restorative Practices (ERP) Unit utilizes an equity-centered lens to infuse concepts of equity in the county’s service delivery, decision-making, and resource distributions. ERP seeks to ensure a shared organizational understanding of racial equity and social justice by supporting departments and staff for transformational change and operationalizing equitable practices, policies, and procedures that result in more fair and just outcomes.   

Click here to view Contest details for Human Rights contests, including:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission Poster, Essay, and Oratory contest details and winners.
• Annual Living the Dream Award
• Howard County High School Food Drive Contest

See our annual reports, special reports and statements, articles, book reports, Culture Corner features, and Human Rights brochures.

SECTION 12.200 HUMAN RIGHTS LAW

It is sometimes difficult for the average person to know what laws,  regulations and policies affect residents of the county.  For the past few years  Howard County has worked to make those laws, regulations and policies more  readily available to the public, and this page is a continuation of that effort.

Howard County law prohibits discrimination in the following five areas:

Employment - Sec. 12.208
Housing - Sec. 12.207
Public  Accommodation - Sec. 12.210
Law Enforcement - Sec. 12.209
Finance  - Sec. 12.211

To view these laws, please click on the link below:

1. Click the following link: Howard County Code
2. Click Title 12 Health And Social Services.
3. Click Subtitle 2 Human Rights.

View the Rules of Procedure of the Human Rights Commission

Watch the Office of Human Rights & Equity's training sessions, webinars and events!

Howard County Government is seeking qualified applicants to fill vacancies on several OHRE commissions:

• College/Trade Student Candidates must be enrolled in college or trade school and reside in Howard County.

• Adult Candidates must be Howard County residents 18 years of age or older. 

• High School Candidates must be Howard County residents under the age of 19 years old and available to serve for a one-year term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

To submit your application or see more information about preparing documents and submission guidelines, visit:

https://www.howardcountymd.gov/boards-commissions

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) was established in 1969. It is comprised of 11 members and a non-voting student member, 18 years old or under. Commissioners must live in Howard County and represent the diversity of county residents. The duties and responsibilities of the Commission are prescribed by law and include recommending a civil rights policy to the County Executive and the County Council. This includes having the authority to conduct surveys and studies concerning civil liberties in order to promote equality in the community. In addition to hosting the annual HRC awards, they support OHRE outreach activities.

The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission (MLK) was established by order of the Howard County Executive to encourage and coordinate appropriate ceremonies and activities honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Commissioners are appointed by the County Executive to serve an initial term of two years. Each year, the MLK celebration takes place on the third Sunday of January. The Day of Service takes place the next day on the third Monday of January. The Day of Service provides a variety of service opportunities throughout the community that is representative of Dr. King’s dedication to servant leadership.

The Howard County LGBTQ+ Workgroup was established on November 1, 2019. County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order to create an LGBTQ+ (Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer+) Workgroup to promote the shared community values of diversity and civility. The Workgroup partnered with county agencies non-profit organizations, and other community groups to facilitate an environment of inclusion, communication, understanding, and respect throughout Howard County.

In October 2022 the County Executive and the County Council voted to establish the LGBTQIA+ Commission to continue the much needed work of equity, inclusion, communication, understanding, and respect for all gender and sexual identities. The purpose of this Commission is to advance policy and systemic change for all persons who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer, Non-binary, and who identify in other capacities along the LGBTQIA+ Spectrum. The Commission is made up of 17 voting members and will seek out 2 non-voting student members in the new year. They meet bi-monthly beginning on January 12, 2023.

The County Executive established La Alianza Latina as a workgroup during Hispanic Heritage Month in September of 2020. The goals of the workgroup were to promote diversity, civility, and address the concerns and struggles that Latino and immigrant communities experience. In October 2022, the County Executive and the County Council voted to establish La Alianza Latina Commission in order to continuing the work of advancing policy and systemic change for the uplift of Latino families, businesses, and residents. The Commission consists of 16 voting members and 2 student non-voting members. Each appointed member was appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council. La Alianza Latina Commission meets bi-monthly beginning on January 24, 2023.

The Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission advises the Howard County Executive on policy initiatives and advocates on issues that affect the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Consisting of 18 members, in addition to the honorary chair, Maryland State Senator Clarence Lam; AAPI hosts public quarterly meetings and presents biannual reports. AAPI organizes cultural events and has informative discussions on emerging issues. It is with the hope that these conferences will foster stronger relationships between the AAPI and the community. The Commission is dedicated to creating a safe place where AAPI residents feel valued and heard in the community.