What additional protected classes does the New Mexico Human Rights Act include?

The New Mexico Human Rights Act encompasses a variety of protected classes that ensure individuals are safeguarded against discrimination in various aspects of life, including employment and housing. One of the additional protected classes included in this act is age, specifically for individuals who are 40 years of age or older. This provision aims to address age discrimination and supports the rights of older adults in the workforce and other areas.

Understanding this context highlights the importance of protecting individuals from unfair treatment based on their age, promoting diversity and inclusion across different age groups. The recognition of age as a protected class reflects broader societal concerns about the equitable treatment of individuals as they age, ensuring that people are not denied opportunities simply due to their age.

The other choices, while relevant topics in discussions about discrimination, are not specifically recognized as additional protected classes under the New Mexico Human Rights Act. Ethnicity and marital status, for instance, are indeed important aspects of human rights, but age (40 or over) is explicitly enumerated in the legislation, making it the correct answer in this context.