HI SB2871

Expands Hawaii's anti-discrimination protections to cover discrimination based on the perception that a person possesses protected characteristics, even if they do not actually possess them

Prohibits discrimination based on a person's association with someone who possesses or is perceived to possess protected characteristics (such as race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or ancestry)

Codifies "intersectional discrimination" protections, making it unlawful to discriminate based on the combination of two or more protected characteristics rather than just a single trait

Applies these expanded protections across employment, housing, public accommodations, and state-funded educational programs and activities

Cites the 1994 Ninth Circuit case Lam v. University of Hawaii and California's 2024 legislation as precedent for recognizing intersectional discrimination claims