New anti-discrimination laws that came into force in December 2003 tackle discrimination in employment and training on the grounds of sexual orientation and religion. These regulations offer protection against discrimination on these grounds for the first time ever — a major step forward.
The Regulations provide a wide definition of sexual orientation as follows: 'a sexual orientation towards persons of the same sex; persons of the opposite sex; or persons of the same sex and of the opposite sex'.
It is important to note that the definition covers preference for the opposite sex as well as homosexual preference. Under the Regulations, it is as unlawful to discriminate against a straight person because he or she is straight as to discriminate against a gay man or a lesbian because he or she is homosexual.
For more information about the Employment Equality Regulations 2003 visit the Department of Trade and Industry at, http://www.dti.gov.uk/er/equality/eeregs.htm
For more information about issues around sexual orientation please visit the following sites:
Stonewall, http://www.stonewall.org.uk/
Gender Trust, http://www.gendertrust.org.uk
Expect Respect, http://www.expectrespect.org.uk/
Broken Rainbow, www.broken-rainbow.org.uk
| 
