Tennessee Human Rights Act (THRA) is comparable to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law. The THRA declares it unlawful for a person employing eight or more persons within the State of Tennessee to "fail or refuse to hire or discharge any person or otherwise to discriminate against an individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment because of such individual's race, creed, color, religion, sex, age or national origin." Tenn. Code § 4-21-401(a). The comparable provision of Title VII declares it unlawful for an employer with 15 or more employees "to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual's race, color, religion, sex, or national origin". 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(a)(1). The primary differences in coverage between THRA and Title VII is that the THRA applies to private employers with just eight or more employees - versus the 15 or more required by Title VII - and THRA adds creed and age as protected categories.

A person wishing to bring a claim under THRA must either file a complaint with the Tennessee Human Rights Commission with 180 days of the unlawful employment action or file a lawsuit under the Act within one year of the discriminatory event.

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