Which of the following is NOT a Protected Characteristic?

Marital status is not typically considered a protected characteristic in many legal frameworks, particularly in the context of anti-discrimination laws. Protected characteristics generally include attributes that are safeguarded from discrimination in various settings, such as employment and housing. These characteristics often encompass ethnicity, gender, and disability, which are explicitly recognized and protected under various laws at both federal and state levels.

While marital status may hold significance in certain contexts (such as family law or tax law), it does not usually enjoy the same level of protection against discrimination as the other listed characteristics. As a result, the absence of marital status from the list of protected characteristics underscores its differing treatment in legal scenarios focused on discrimination.