Independent contractors are people too and not fully protected by federal and state discrimination law?
Where there is substantial indifference discrimination is present. Title VII, expressly excludes independent contractors from it's protections and provides more rights to the employed.
Under the U.S. Constitution, Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights states, All persons, born or naturalized in the U.S. and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the U.S. and of the state wherein they reside, No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the U.S; nor shall any State deprive any person of life,liberty,or property without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.