New gay discrimination regulations published

The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 now looks set to come into effect at the end of April across England Scotland and Wales, subject to Parliamentary approval. Similar regulations came into effect in Northern Ireland on 1 January.

It is already against the law for employees to be discriminated against on the grounds of their sexual orientation. However, until now it has not been illegal to deny goods, facilities and services for this reason.

These new regulations, brought about as a result to changes made in the Equality Act 2006, will offer the same level of protection, in terms of the provision of goods and services, as is already afforded to people on the basis of their sex, disability and race.

Tolerant society

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly (pictured) said: "The principles behind these measures are straightforward. It cannot be right in a decent, tolerant society that a shopkeeper or restaurant can refuse to serve a customer because they are gay.

"It cannot be right for a school to discriminate against a child because of their parents' sexuality or not to take homophobic bullying as seriously as they should.

"The goal of the new regulations is to make such discrimination illegal. We want to ensure that when people visit their hospital, study at school or college, or even do something as everyday as shopping or booking a holiday, they get treated fairly and with respect, no matter what their sexual orientation."

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) also took the opportunity to publish its Regulatory Impact Assessment and its response to last year's consultation on the regulations.

'Right balance'

The DCLG said new regulations would be applicable to a wide range of circumstances. For example it will be unlawful "to refuse a same sex couple a double room in a hotel because this might cause offence to other customers."

Likewise, it would be unlawful to refuse someone entry to a "gay bar" on the grounds of them being heterosexual.

Other examples highlighted by the DCLG were refusing a child's admission to a school on the grounds of either

their or their parents' sexual orientation, or turning down membership of a sports club on such grounds.

Ruth Kelly added: "I am confident that our regulations strike the right balance in response to some of the most sensitive challenges we face today. They will tackle practical barriers and real, everyday problems."

The Sexual Orientation Regulations will now go before both Houses of Parliament for debate and, subject to approval, are expected come into force on 30 April 2007, the same time as Part 2 of the Equality Act.

Part 2 provides parallel protection against discrimination in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of people's religion or belief.