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> Sexual Orientation
Sexual Orientation
In recent times, significant developments have taken place in the recognition of the rights of sexual minorities and great strides have been made in securing equal treatment for gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people. Detailed information about the changes affecting gay men, lesbians and bisexuals is provided in this section. Information affecting transgendered people is provided in the section The Right to Equal Treatment: Transgender Discrimination.
Many employees or service users suffer discriminatory treatment because they are known or believed to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual. There have also been cases of discriminatory treatment of gay men on the grounds that they may be HIV positive.
Until recently a lesbian, gay or bisexual worker was not protected from such treatment by existing UK discrimination legislation, and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation did not constitute an act of sex discrimination contrary to Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (‘SDA’).
The position in relation to employment, further and higher education, and vocational training was transformed with the introduction of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (‘Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003’). These gave effect to a European Union Directive extending the equality provisions to sexual minorities not previously protected by Community law, and came into force on 1 December 2003.
The position in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services, housing, schools and public services has now been similarly transformed with the introduction of the Equalities Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (‘Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007’) under powers conferred by the Equality Act 2006. These came into force on the 30 April 2007.
Many employees or service users suffer discriminatory treatment because they are known or believed to be lesbian, gay, or bisexual. There have also been cases of discriminatory treatment of gay men on the grounds that they may be HIV positive.
Until recently a lesbian, gay or bisexual worker was not protected from such treatment by existing UK discrimination legislation, and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation did not constitute an act of sex discrimination contrary to Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (‘SDA’).
The position in relation to employment, further and higher education, and vocational training was transformed with the introduction of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 (‘Sexual Orientation Regulations 2003’). These gave effect to a European Union Directive extending the equality provisions to sexual minorities not previously protected by Community law, and came into force on 1 December 2003.
The position in relation to the provision of goods, facilities and services, housing, schools and public services has now been similarly transformed with the introduction of the Equalities Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 (‘Sexual Orientation Regulations 2007’) under powers conferred by the Equality Act 2006. These came into force on the 30 April 2007.
