Which of the following lists five areas not to discriminate against?

• A. Race, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation
• B. Race, religion, age, gender, and height
• C. Race, religion, age, gender, and income
• D. Race, religion, age, gender, and nationality

Answer: (A)

Discrimination should be avoided on categories that society and professional ethics recognize as protected. Race, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation are all widely treated as protected characteristics in modern anti-discrimination laws and ethical codes applicable to helping professions. This means individuals should be served and evaluated without bias based on these aspects of who they are, which helps ensure fair access to services and protect vulnerable groups. The other options replace sexual orientation with traits like height, income, or nationality; height and income are not typically protected in most civil rights protections, and while nationality can be protected in some contexts, the standard practice in counseling and many anti-discrimination guidelines emphasizes sexual orientation alongside the other well-established protections. Hence, the list that includes race, religion, age, gender, and sexual orientation best reflects the widely recognized nondiscrimination expectations.