Policy

News items of interest and relevance to older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals and those organisations working with and for them can be found here. If you have an item of interest that you would like to be featured here please send it (maximum 250 words and remember to include contact details and/or web links) to:

Antony Smith
National Development and Policy Officer
Older Lesbians, Gay Men and Bisexuals
020 8765 7576

Goods, facilities and services – new protection against discrimination for lesbian, gay and bisexual people
Part 3 of the Equality Act 2006, which makes it illegal to discriminate against lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the provision of goods and services, from NHS care to holidays and insurance, came into effect on 30 April 2007.

 “This very welcome development will have a hugely significant impact on the lives of thousands of older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals,” says Gordon Lishman, Age Concern England’s Director General. “Many lives have been blighted by the blatant discrimination of service providers and businesses, from hotels turning away same-sex couples to health services being denied on the basis of sexual orientation – discrimination that has, rightly, long been a thing of the past for other groups. We warmly congratulate our colleagues at Stonewall for their effective and successful campaigning”

Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Rights Commission launched on 1 October 2007. It brings together the existing equality strands of race, gender and disability with the new equality strands of age, sexual orientation and religion or belief. The Commission champions equality and human rights for all, placing age and sexual orientation equality on an equal footing for the first time. It gives older lesbians, gay men and bisexuals protection and services they have never had before and enables individuals who face discrimination on a number of grounds to get advice on these in one place. For further information go to the Commission's website at: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Civil Partnership
Since December 2005 same-sex couples across the UK have been able to legally register their relationship, giving them the same rights as a married couple in areas like tax, social security, inheritance and workplace benefits.

Jacqui Smith, then Minister for Equality, said: "This is one of the most significant pieces of social legislation the Government has introduced. The Civil Partnership Act sends a clear message that we value and support the contribution committed same-sex couples make to each other and to our society.
 
"A loving relationship, whether of opposite-sex couples or same-sex couples, benefits society as a whole and I am delighted that this Act is now on the statute book. I hope this Act will help create a more equal society. It opens the way to respect, recognition and justice for those who have been denied them for too long.”
 
Important rights and responsibilities will flow from forming a civil partnership. For further information of particular relevance to older same-sex couples, see the new Age Concern Information Sheets.

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