Equality Act 2010
Created in 2010, it legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. The Equality Act protects people against discrimination on the grounds of protected characteristics, of which there are nine:
Age
Disability
Gender reassignment
Marriage and civil partnership
Pregnancy and maternity
Race
Religion or belief
Sex
Sexual orientation
It provides the following for the nine protected characteristics
The basic framework of protection against direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation in services and public functions, premi, work, education, associations and transport
Changing the definition of gender reassignment, by removing the requirement for medical supervision
Providing protection for people discriminated against because they are perceived to have, or are associated with someone who has, a protected characteristic
Clearer protection for breastfeeding mothers
Applying a uniform definition of indirect discrimination to all protected characteristics
Harmonising provisions allowing voluntary positive action