MD State Law Does Not Expressly Prohibit Sexual Orientation Discrimination. Answering questions certified by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the state’s highest court decided that “sex” as a protected category does not include sexual orientation under the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act (MFEPA) and Maryland Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (MEPEWA). As it stands, federal law may provide more protection to Maryland workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation than state law. John Doe v Catholic Relief Services, Misc. No. 28, September Term 2022 (August 14, 2023).