HR is usually there to protect the company, not you, so be careful. Discrimination is a violation of your basic rights and you should definitely stand up for yourself. Document every comment and every instance where you were treated unfairly. I saw some good info on about human rights in the workplace. They deal with these types of cases and can tell you if you have enough for a legal claim. In my experience, having a record of "best results" compared to those who got promoted is very strong evidence. Don't let them make you feel small. You deserve equal treatment and there are laws to ensure that.