Is UGLY a Protected Class Under the Employment Discrimination Laws?

Check out this humorous clip from Comedy Central Network's the Daily Show, in which a well-respected economist at the University of Texas notes that how a person looks has an impact on pay and suggests that "ugly" should be a protected classification under the employment laws. Obviously, the Daily Show clip is meant to entertain (if not offend) and make the viewer laugh (or become enraged), but the issue is a real one. Economic studies show that attractive people earn more on average than less-attractive individuals. A recent article by a well-respected law professor noted that "unattractive" graduates of her law school earned significantly less on average than "attractive" graduates.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-november-14-2011/ugly-people.