How do affinity groups (e.g., employee resource groups) not violate discrimination laws?
<p>A lot of companies have these, Women's groups, Black groups, LGBT groups, etc. Some of these groups are open for non-identifying folks to join (e.g., as allies) but some are not. For the ones that are not, how does this not run against discrimination laws?</p>
<p>Is there some exception (like a ministerial exception for religious institutions) here?</p>

<h2>Why would they be against the law?</h2>
<p>Anti-discrimination law applies to protected classes in specific situations. For example, in <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/australias-anti-discrimination-law" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Australia</a> (my emphasis):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of <strong>a number of protected attributes</strong> including age, disability, race, sex, intersex status, gender identity and sexual orientation <strong>in certain areas of public life</strong>, including education and employment.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The types of organisations or collectives that you describe appear to be social and private - not public.</p>

employment discrimination