To protect the public health, safety and welfare, it is declared to be the policy of this State to keep continually in review all practices infringing on the basic human right to a life with dignity, and the causes of these practices, so that corrective measures may, where possible, be promptly recommended and implemented, and to prevent discrimination in employment, housing, education, extension of credit or access to public accommodations on account of an individual's actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin and in employment, extension of credit and access to public accommodations on the basis of age; and in employment and housing on the basis of familial status; and in employment because of the previous assertion of a claim or right against a prior employer under former Title 39 or Title 39‑A and because of protected activity under Title 26, chapter 7, subchapter 5‑B; and to prevent discrimination or retaliation on the basis of an assertion of rights under this Act or interference with an individual's right to be free from discrimination prohibited under this Act.   [PL 2021, c. 366, §1 (AMD).]