Equality Commission welcomes decision on Equality Act

The Equality Commission welcomes the fact that the court has substantially upheld the validity of the Regulations, which afford equality of rights and protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services; sale or letting of premises; and in education.

The Commission notes that the harassment provisions in the regulations have been quashed. We would emphasize that in employment and in the workplace harassment remains unlawful on grounds of sexual orientation as it is on other grounds such as:

• race,
• religious belief,
• political opinion,
• gender,
• disability, and
• age.

The Commission has always recognised, and acted in protection of, the right of people to hold and manifest religious belief. This right is fundamentally important in a democratic society as is the principle that it cannot be exercised so as to deny the legitimate rights of others.