The Law

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 outlaw discrimination in employment and vocational training on the grounds of sexual orientation. The regulations came into force on 1 December.

The Sexual Orientation Regulations apply to discrimination on grounds of orientation towards persons of the same sex (lesbians and gays), the opposite sex (heterosexuals) and the same and opposite sex (bisexuals). They cover discrimination on grounds of perceived as well as actual sexual orientation (i.e. assuming - correctly or incorrectly - that someone is lesbian, gay, heterosexual or bisexual). The Regulations also cover association, i.e. being discriminated against on grounds of the sexual orientation of those with whom you associate (for example, friends and/or family).

Civil Partnership is a new legal relationship, which can be registered by two people of the same sex. It gives same-sex couples the ability to obtain legal recognition for their relationship. Civil Partnership came into force on 5 December 2005. Civil partners will have equal treatment in a wide range of legal matters with married couples.

The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 came into force on 30 April 2007. These Regulations, which are made under section 81 of the Equality Act 2006, make it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of:

•  Goods, facilities and services
• Education
• Disposal and management of premises and exercise of public functions.

The Government is clear that nobody should be required to act in a way that contravenes their core religious beliefs. The regulations provide an exemption for religion or belief organisations to protect practices that arise from basic doctrines of faith.

However, where religious or belief organisations enter into an agreement to provide social or welfare services to the wider community, on behalf of and under contract to a public authority, the rights of lesbians, gays and bisexuals to have equal access to those services comes to the fore. In these circumstances the exemption will not apply.

The regulations will apply to religious adoption and fostering agencies but they will be given until the end of 2008 to adjust. In the interim, any agency wishing to take advantage of the transitional arrangements will have to refer prospective gay, lesbian and bi-sexual adoptive parents to agencies who are able to assist.

Here are some of the ways in which the new legislation could change your life:

Education

Gay pupils can  no longer be refused admission to  a school because someone has a problem with them - or their parents - being gay. And they can't be treated differently when they are in there either!

Health

GPs can no longer turn you away for being gay - some did before! - or refuse you treatments they would offer to anyone else.

Hotels

Double beds for everyone! Well, if they want them.

Council services

Some councils would refuse to recognise homophobic bullying as a good reason to re-house a person (or evict their neighbours). Now they have to act.

Restaurants

'Holding hands with your girlfriend across a table? Carry on, madam.' it's not just about the money - now you don't  have to tolerate being treated differently to anyone else.

Travel companies

Those couples-only resorts are now open to all sorts of couples. Gay people need honeymoons too!

Adoption

Agencies have to judge your suitability as a couple on, well, your suitability as a couple. Not on your sexuality.

Housing

If a house or flat is for sale or rent, the owner or landlord can't turn you down just because you're gay.

Banking

Some banks used to deny joint bank accounts to same-sex couples. They can't anymore.

True or False

Some popular myths about what the new regulations will mean and why all businesses - gay and straight - will be a whole lot better off.

It means that gay clubs will have to let in straight people.

True. But most gay clubs do anyway. Obviously management can reserve the right not to admit anyone they suspect might be trouble, just as they do now.

Gay and lesbian support services will also be open to everyone?

False. If support services are aimed at a certain partof the polulation then they'ss still be targeted like thatn. So if someone has set up a sports club so isolated lesbians can meet each other, that won't be affected by the new regulations.

You can no longer have  something like a gay man's clinic.

False. Yes, you can. Just like there are health services directed specifically at women or children or the elderly, health services can be directed at gay men. Or lesbians for that matter. Everyone's needs are specific.

If you're religious organisation you don't have to comply with these rules.

False. Oh, yes you do! Services like weddings and baptisms may not be covered by the new regulations, but it has been decided that no religious organisation should  have an automatic  opt-out as far as anything else is concerned.

Even if they break this law, there's not much you can do about it.

False. Of course you can. If you're discriminated against under the terms of the regulations, in the first place you should tell the person involved about the new laws. As a last resort, you can bring court proceedings and maybe even get compensation.

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