[Adopted 7-16-1990; amended 12-7-1992]
A. 
The City of Albany hereby finds and declares that the City has the responsibility to ensure that every individual within its boundaries is afforded an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life, free from violation of basic civil and human rights, and that discriminatory practices adversely affecting the equality of opportunity threaten the general welfare of the municipality and its inhabitants. The City of Albany realizes its obligation to protect the rights and privileges that all individuals have as human beings, and hereby gives the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Fair Housing general jurisdiction and power to implement and enforce the provisions of this article and the Human Rights Commission the general jurisdiction to hear disputes referred to it by the Office under this article and the appellate jurisdiction to review an order of the Office dismissing a complaint for lack of jurisdiction or for want of probable cause.
B. 
It shall be the policy of the City of Albany to encourage programs designed to ensure that every individual has an equal opportunity to participate fully in the life of this City, free from violation of their basic civil and human rights, and to prohibit discrimination because of race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status in areas of employment, public accommodations, housing, real property transactions and the provision of City services.
[Amended 2-1-1999 by Ord. No. 1.12.99; 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 37.91.00[1]; 4-7-2004 by Ord. No. 18.61.03; 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 21.61.23]
(1) 
In so doing, the Common Council makes clear that its action is not intended to promote any particular attitude, course of conduct or way of life. Rather, its purpose is to ensure that individuals who live in our free society have the capacity to make their own choice, follow their own beliefs and conduct their own lives as they see fit, consistent with existing law. Nothing in this legislation should be construed to create, add, alter or abolish any right to marry that may exist under any federal or state constitution or state law.
(2) 
Furthermore, nothing contained herein is to be construed to bar any religious or denominational institution or organization or any organization operated for charitable or educational purposes and operated, supervised or controlled by or connected with a religious organization from limiting employment or sale or rental of housing accommodations or admission to or giving preference to persons of the same religion or denomination or from making such selection as is calculated by such organization to promote the religious principles for which it is established or maintained.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it take effect 1-1-2003.
[Amended 2-1-1999 by Ord. No. 1.12.99; 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 37.91.00[1]; 4-7-2004 by Ord. No. 18.61.03; 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 21.61.23]
The opportunity to obtain employment, use of places of public accommodation, the use, occupancy and ownership of housing accommodations, land and commercial space and the provision of City services without discrimination because of race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status is hereby recognized as and declared to be a civil right. Nothing contained herein, however, shall be construed to protect conduct otherwise proscribed by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it take effect 1-1-2003.
[Amended 2-1-1999 by Ord. No.. 1.12.99; 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 37.91.00[1]; 4-7-2004 by Ord. No. 18.61.03; 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 21.61.23; 7-6-2023 by Ord. No. 30.71.23]
A. 
When used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
COMMISSION
The City of Albany Human Rights Commission.
DISABILITY
Shall be defined and used for the purposes of this article as such term is defined and used in the New York Executive Law, as amended.
DISCRIMINATION
Includes segregation and separation.
DOMESTIC PARTNER
Persons who have a registered domestic partnership pursuant to Article V of Chapter 245 of the Code of the City of Albany.
EMPLOYEE
Does not include any individual employed by their parents, spouse or child in the domestic service of any person.
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
Includes any person undertaking to procure employees or opportunities to work.
GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION
Shall include actual or perceived sex and shall also include a person's gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression, whether or not that gender identity, self-image, appearance, behavior or expression is different from that traditionally associated with the legal sex assigned to that person at birth.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION
Includes any building, structure or portion thereof which is used or occupied or is intended, arranged or designed to be used or occupied as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human beings.
MARITAL STATUS
Shall be defined and used for the purposes of this article as such term is defined and used in the New York Executive Law, as amended.
NATIONAL ORIGIN
Includes ancestry.
NATURAL HAIRSTYLE
Includes hairstyles typically associated with racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious groups, including, but not limited to, Black people, Native Americans, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, and Nazirites. This definition shall include, but not be limited to, those hairstyles and textures most commonly associated with Black people and that are untreated by chemicals or heat and can be styled with or without extensions, whether such hairstyles are in a trimmed or untrimmed state. This definition shall include, among other hairstyles, afros, protective hairstyles such as twists, locs, braids, cornrows, and Bantu knots, head wraps, scarfs, the use of color and/or dye, extensions, and/or patterned or shaved hairstyles.
OFFICE
The City of Albany Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Fair Housing.
PERSON
Includes one or more individuals, partnership associations, corporations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in bankruptcy or receivers.
PLACE OF PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION, RESORT OR AMUSEMENT
Includes, except as hereinafter specified, all places included in the meaning of such terms as set forth in the New York Executive Law, Article 15, § 292, as amended, incorporated herein by reference.
PROVISION OF CITY SERVICES
Includes any service by the City of Albany, either directly or indirectly through a grant or award of funds or on a contractual basis, including a service, activity or event which is fully or partially funded for a specific or general purpose with City funds or funds administered by the City of Albany. Nothing herein shall be interpreted to prohibit the provision of a City service, which is otherwise provided on a nondiscriminatory basis, to a targeted population or class of individuals.
SEX
Shall be defined and used for the purposes of this article as such term is defined and used in the New York Executive Law, as amended.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
Includes actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, asexuality, bisexuality, and pansexuality.
B. 
The pronouns "him," "her," "himself," "herself," "he," "she," "they," "them," and "their" are used interchangeably to designate an individual, regardless of the gender thereof.
[Amended 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 21.61.23]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it take effect 1-1-2003.
[Amended 2-1-1999 by Ord. No. 1.12.99; 12-17-2001 by Ord. No. 37.91.00[1]; 4-7-2004 by Ord. No. 18.61.03; 6-5-2023 by Ord. No. 21.61.23; 7-6-2023 by Ord. No. 30.71.23]
A. 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice:
(1) 
For an employer or licensing agency, because of the age, race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of any individual to refuse to hire or employ or to bar or to discharge from employment such individual or to discriminate against such individual in compensation or in terms, conditions or privileges of employment.
(2) 
For an employment agency to discriminate against any individual because of age, race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle in receiving, classifying, disposing or otherwise acting upon applications for its services or in referring an applicant or applicants to an employer or employers.
(3) 
For any employer or employment agency to print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication or to use any form of application for employment or to make any inquiry in connection with prospective employment which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitations, specification or discrimination as to age, race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification; provided, however, that neither this subsection nor any provision of this article or other law shall be construed to prohibit the personnel office from requesting information from applicants for civil service examinations concerning any of the aforementioned characteristics for the purpose of conducting studies to identify and resolve possible problems in recruitment and testing of members of minority groups to ensure the fairest possible and equal opportunities for employment in the civil service for all persons, regardless of age, race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle.
(4) 
For any employer or employment agency to discharge, expel or otherwise discriminate against any person because he has opposed any practices forbidden under this article or because he has filed a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article.
(5) 
Nothing in this article shall affect any restrictions upon the activities of persons licensed by the State Liquor Authority with respect to persons under 21 years of age.
(6) 
Nothing contained herein shall restrict an employer's right to insist that an employee meet bona fide job-related qualifications of employment or shall authorize or require employers to establish affirmative action quotas or to inquire about the sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression, of current or prospective employees.
B. 
Places of public accommodation, resort or amusement.
(1) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person, being the owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, agent or employee of any place of public accommodation, resort or amusement, because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of any person, directly or indirectly to refuse, withhold from or deny to such person any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities or privileges thereof, including the extension of credit, or directly or indirectly to publish, circulate, issue, display, post or mail any written or printed communication, notice or advertisement to the effect that any of the accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges of any such place shall be refused, withheld from or denied to any person on account of race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle or that the patronage or custom thereat of any person of or purporting to be of any particular race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age or marital status or having a disability, or having a natural hairstyle, is unwelcome, objectionable or not acceptable, desired or solicited.
(2) 
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent the barring of any person, because of the sex of such person, from places of public accommodation, resort or amusement if the Commission grants an exemption based on bona fide considerations of public policy, nor shall this article apply to the rental of rooms in a housing accommodation which restricts such rental to individuals of one sex.
C. 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any real estate broker, real estate salesman or employee or agent thereof or any other individual, corporation, partnership or organization, for the purpose of inducing a real estate transaction from which any such person or any of its stockholders or members may benefit financially, to represent that a change has occurred or will or may occur in the composition with respect to race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyles of the owners or occupants in the block, neighborhood or area in which the real property is located and to represent, directly or indirectly, that this change will or may result in undesirable consequences in the block, neighborhood or area in which the real property is located, including but not limited to the lowering of property values, an increase in criminal or antisocial behavior or a decline in the quality of schools or other facilities.
D. 
Housing accommodations.
(1) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee or managing agent of or other person having the right to sell, rent or lease a housing accommodation, constructed or to be constructed, or any agent or employee thereof:
(a) 
To refuse to sell, rent or lease or otherwise to deny to or withhold from any person or group of persons such a housing accommodation because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of such person or persons.
(b) 
To discriminate against any person because of his race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle in the terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any such housing accommodation or in the furnishing of facilities or services in connection therewith.
(c) 
To print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication or to use any form of application for the purchase, rental or lease of such housing accommodation or to make any record or inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of housing accommodation which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination.
(2) 
The provisions of this subsection shall not apply:
(a) 
To the rental of a housing accommodation in a building which contains housing accommodations for not more than two families living independently of each other, if the owner or members of his family reside in one of such housing accommodations;
(b) 
To the restriction of the rental of all rooms in a housing accommodation to individuals of the same sex;
(c) 
To the rental of a room or rooms in a housing accommodation, if such rental is by the occupant of the housing accommodation or by the owner of the housing accommodation and he or members of his family reside in such housing accommodation; or
(d) 
Solely with respect to age, to the restriction of the sale, rental or lease of housing accommodations exclusively to persons 55 years of age or older.
(3) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for the owner, lessee, sublessee or managing agent of or other person having the right of ownership or possession of or the right to sell, rent or lease, land or commercial space:
(a) 
To refuse to sell, rent or lease or otherwise deny to or withhold from any person or group of persons such commercial space because of the age of such person or persons or land or commercial space because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of such person or persons.
(b) 
To discriminate against any person because of her race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle in the terms, conditions or privileges of the sale, rental or lease of any such land or commercial space or in the furnishing of facilities or service in connection therewith.
(c) 
To print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication or to use any form of application for the purchase, rental or lease of such land or commercial space or to make any record or inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of such land or commercial space which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination.
(d) 
With respect to age, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the restriction of the sale, rental or lease of land or commercial space exclusively to persons 55 years of age or older.
(4) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any real estate broker, real estate salesman or employee or agent thereof:
(a) 
To refuse to sell, rent or lease any housing accommodation, land or commercial space to any person or group of persons or to refuse to negotiate for the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, land or commercial space to any person or group of persons because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of such person or persons or to represent that any housing accommodation, land or commercial space is not available for inspection, sale, rental or lease when in fact it is so available or otherwise to deny or withhold any housing accommodation, land or commercial space or any facilities of any housing accommodation, land or commercial space from any person or group of persons because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of such person or persons.
(b) 
To print or circulate or cause to be printed or circulated any statement, advertisement or publication or to use any form of application for the purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, land or commercial space or to make any record or inquiry in connection with the prospective purchase, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, land or commercial space which expresses, directly or indirectly, any limitation, specification or discrimination as to race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle or any intent to make any such limitation, specification or discrimination.
(c) 
With respect to age, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to the restriction of the sale, rental or lease of any housing accommodation, land or commercial space exclusively to persons 55 years of age or older.
(5) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any real estate board, because of the race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of any individual who is otherwise qualified for membership, to exclude or expel such individual from membership or to discriminate against such individual in the terms, conditions and privileges of membership in such board.
E. 
Provision of City services.
(1) 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any department, agency, board, commission, authority, employee or other entity of the City of Albany to discriminate in the provision of City services, for which a person is otherwise entitled, because of the age, race, sex, creed, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, marital or domestic partner status, or natural hairstyle of such person.
(2) 
Any notice of the availability of a grant or award of funds, or notice of a solicitation of bids, for the provision of City services shall include a clause on discriminatory practices prohibited in accordance with this article.
(3) 
Any contractual agreement entered into, or award or grant of funds, by or on behalf of the City of Albany for the provision of City services shall be in conformance with the provisions of this article and shall stipulate that the contractor, awardee or grantee shall not engage in a discriminatory practice prohibited by this article.
F. 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person to aid, abet, incite, compel or coerce the doing of any of the acts forbidden under this article or to attempt to do so.
G. 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any person engaged in any activity to which this section applies to retaliate or discriminate against any person because he has opposed any practices forbidden under this article or because he has filed a complaint, testified or assisted in any proceeding under this article.
H. 
It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice for any party to a conciliation agreement made pursuant to § 48-27 of this article to violate the terms of such agreement.
I. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and D of this section, it shall not be an unlawful discriminatory practice for an employer, employment agency, labor organization or joint labor-management committee to carry out a plan to increase the employment of members of a minority group.
J. 
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the offer or acceptance of a partial discount to a person 65 years of age or older for housing accommodations.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance provided that it take effect 1-1-2003.
A. 
Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice may, by himself or his attorney at law, make, sign and file with the Office a verified complaint, in writing, which shall state the name and address of the person alleged to have committed the unlawful discriminatory practice complained of and which shall set forth the particulars thereof and contain such other information as may be required by the Office. The Office, on its own motion, may, in like manner, make, sign and file such complaint. In connection with the filing of such complaint, the Corporation Counsel or his or her designee is authorized to take proof, issue subpoenas and administer oaths in the manner provided in the Civil Practice Law and Rules. Any employer whose employees, or some of them, refuse or threaten to refuse to cooperate with the provisions of this article may file with the Office a verified complaint asking for assistance by conciliation or other remedial action.
B. 
After the filing of any complaint, the Office shall promptly serve a copy thereof upon the respondent and all persons it deems to be necessary parties and make prompt investigation in connection therewith. Within 10 days after a complaint is filed, the Office shall determine whether it has jurisdiction and, if so, within 90 days after a complaint is filed, whether there is probable cause to believe that the person named in the complaint, hereinafter referred to as the "respondent," has engaged or is engaging in an unlawful discriminatory practice. If it finds with respect to any respondent that it lacks jurisdiction, the complaint shall be rejected. If it finds with respect to any respondent that the complaint falls to show probable cause, the Office shall cause to be served on the complainant an order, subject to appellate review by the Commission, dismissing said complaint as against the respondent.
C. 
Conciliation.
(1) 
If in the judgment of the Office the circumstances so warrant, it may at any time after the filing of the complaint endeavor to eliminate such unlawful discriminatory practice by conference, conciliation and persuasion. Each conciliation agreement shall include provisions requiring the respondent to refrain from the commission of unlawful discriminatory practices in the future and may contain such further provisions as may be agreed upon by the Office and the respondent agreement. The Office shall not disclose what has transpired in the course of such endeavors.
(2) 
If the respondent and the Office agree upon conciliation terms, the Office shall serve upon the complainant a copy of the proposed conciliation agreement. If the complainant agrees to the terms of the agreement or fails to object to such terms within 15 days after its service upon him, the Office shall issue an order embodying such conciliation agreement. If the complainant objects to the agreement, he shall serve a written specification of his objections upon the Office within such period. Unless such objections are met or withdrawn within 10 days after service thereof, the Office shall notice the complaint for a hearing as provided under Subsection D of this section.
(3) 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Office may, where it finds the terms of a conciliation agreement to be in the public interest, execute such agreement and limit the hearing to the objections of the complainant.
(4) 
If a conciliation agreement is entered into, the Office shall serve a copy of the order embodying such agreement upon all parties to the proceeding.
D. 
Notice of complaint.
(1) 
Within 120 days after a complaint is filed, or within 30 days after the Commission or a duly constituted body thereof has revised and remanded an order dismissing a complaint for want of probable cause, unless the Office has issued an order stating the terms of a conciliation agreement not objected to by the complainant, the Office shall cause to be issued and served a written notice, together with a copy of such complaint, as the same may have been amended, requiring the respondent or respondents to answer the charges of such complaint and appear at a public hearing before a body established by the Commission for this purpose, which appearance shall in no event be less than 10 days after such notice and at a place and time to be fixed by the Office and specified in such notice. The case in support of the complaint shall be presented by the complainant or his/her attorney. Attempts at conciliation shall not be received in evidence. At least two business days prior to the hearing the respondent shall, and any necessary party may, file a written answer to the complaint, sworn to subject to the penalties of perjury, with the Office and serve a copy upon all other parties to the proceeding. A respondent who has filed an answer or whose default in answering has been set aside for good cause shown may appear at such hearing, in person or otherwise, with or without counsel, cross-examine witnesses and the complainant and submit testimony. The complainant and all parties shall be allowed to present testimony in person or by counsel and cross-examine witnesses. The Commission may, in its discretion, permit any person who has a substantial personal interest to intervene as a party and may require that necessary parties not already parties be joined. The Office or the complainant shall have the power to reasonably and fairly amend any complaint, and the respondent and any other party shall have like power to amend his answer. The Commission shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence prevailing in courts of law or equity. The testimony taken at the hearing shall be under oath and a record made.
(2) 
If the respondent fails to answer the complaint, the Commission may enter the default and the hearing shall proceed on the evidence in support of the complaint. Such default may be set aside only for good cause shown, upon equitable terms and conditions.
(3) 
Within 30 days after the conclusion of such hearing, a determination shall be made by such body established by the Commission pursuant to Subsection D(1) of this section and an order served as hereinafter provided. If, upon all evidence at the hearing, the Commission shall find that a respondent has engaged in any unlawful discriminatory practice as defined in this article, the Commission shall state findings of fact and cause to be served on such respondent an order based on such findings and setting them forth and including such of the following provisions as in the judgment of the Commission will effectuate the purposes of this article:
(a) 
Requiring such respondent to cease and desist from such unlawful practice.
(b) 
Requiring such respondent to take such affirmative action, including but not limited to hiring, reinstatement or upgrading of employees, with or without back pay, the extension of full, equal and unsegregated accommodations, advantages, facilities and privileges to all persons and granting the credit which was the subject of any complaint.
(c) 
Awarding of compensatory damages to the person aggrieved by such practice.
(d) 
Requiring a report of the manner of compliance.
(4) 
If, upon all the evidence, the Commission shall find that a respondent has not engaged in any such unlawful discriminatory practice, it shall state findings of fact and shall issue and cause to be served on the complainant an order based on such findings and setting them forth dismissing the complaint against the respondent. A copy of each order issued by the Commission shall be delivered in all cases to the Corporation Counsel or his or her designee and such other public officers as the Commission deems proper. A copy of any complaint filed against any respondent who has previously entered into a conciliation agreement pursuant to Subsection C(1) of this section or against whom an order of the Commission has previously been entered pursuant to this subsection shall be delivered to the Corporation Counsel or his or her designee and to such other public officers as the Commission deems proper.
(5) 
The Commission shall establish rules of practice to govern, expedite and effectuate the foregoing procedure and its own actions thereunder.
E. 
Any complaint filed pursuant to this section must be so filed within one year after the alleged unlawful discriminatory practice.
F. 
Not later than one year from the date of a conciliation agreement or an order issued under this section, and at any other time in its discretion, the Office shall investigate whether the respondent is complying with the terms of such agreement or order. Upon a finding of noncompliance, the Office shall take appropriate action to assure compliance.
G. 
No agent or employee of the office shall make public with respect to a particular person without his consent information from reports obtained by the Office except as necessary to the conduct of a proceeding under this section.
H. 
Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice shall have a cause of action in any court of appropriate jurisdiction for damages and such other remedies at law and in equity as may be appropriate, unless such person had filed a complaint hereunder, provided that, where the Office has dismissed such complaint on the grounds of administrative convenience, such person shall maintain all rights to bring suit as if no complaint had been filed. No person who has initiated any action in a court of competent jurisdiction or who has an action pending before any administrative agency under any other law of the state based upon an act which would be an unlawful discriminatory practice under this article may file a complaint with respect to the same grievance under this section.