Final answer:
The Illinois Human Rights Act protects various classes from discrimination, including race, sex, and sexual orientation. Pay discrimination claims are also safeguarded based on sex, race, national origin, age, religion, or disability. Landmark civil rights legislation and court rulings have broadened these protections over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Illinois Human Rights Act, a protected class includes groups shielded from discrimination based on certain characteristics. These include race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and older), order of protection status, marital status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation (which includes gender-related identity), unfavorable discharge from military service, and citizenship status (provided the individual is authorized to work in the United States).
The importance of recognizing protected classes is to uphold equality and prevent discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other areas. Specifically, protections against pay discrimination cover categories like sex, race, national origin, age, religion, or disability to ensure fair compensation practices across the board.
Over recent years, through various court rulings and legislation, the interpretation of civil rights has expanded to offer more inclusive protections—such as those based on sexual orientation and gender identity largely due to social evolution and landmark decisions, including the application of the Civil Rights Act in 2020 to cover these areas.