Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a unit, officer, or employee of the State, a county, or a municipal corporation may not engage in a discriminatory act prohibited by § 20–304, § 20–606, § 20–705, § 20–706, § 20–707, or § 20–708 of this title. Sections 20–304, 20–705, and 20–706 of this title do not prohibit the State, a county, or a municipality from: providing separate facilities for males and females in government–owned or government–operated public institutions; or operating or funding special or separate programs and facilities for children, seniors, or other special populations.