Equality Act 2010

Extends existing discrimination law covering the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Key areas:

• provides powers to extend age discrimination protection outside the workplace;
• clarifies protection against discrimination by association, for example in relation to a mother who cares for her disabled child;
• extends protection from discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment to school pupils;
• extends discrimination protection in the terms of membership and benefits for private clubs and associations.

Royal Assent : 8 April