Overview

The Equality (Marriage) (Amendment) Bill aims to add a person's conscientious beliefs about the definition of marriage as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010. This would offer legal protection against discrimination for individuals holding traditional views on marriage.

Description

This Bill makes two key amendments. Firstly, it amends the Equality Act 2010 to include beliefs about the definition of marriage as a protected characteristic under "religion or belief". This means that discrimination based on these beliefs would be unlawful. Secondly, it amends the Employment Rights Act 1996 to provide employees with the right not to suffer detriment for holding or reasonably expressing beliefs about the definition of marriage. The bill applies to England and Wales and would come into effect two months after being passed.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly allocate any specific government spending. The impact on government spending is indirect and would likely involve the cost of enforcing the new legal protections, including potential legal cases and training for public sector employees.

Groups Affected

This bill could affect several groups:

• Individuals with traditional views on marriage: This bill offers them legal protection against discrimination based on their beliefs.
• Employers: Employers would need to ensure their practices comply with the new protections, potentially requiring changes to policies and training.
• Public sector bodies: Public sector bodies would have a duty to respect beliefs about the definition of marriage, potentially requiring adjustments to services or policies.
• LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations: This bill could potentially lead to increased discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and limit their rights, although the bill is not explicitly designed to cause such an outcome. The impact on this group is a subject of ongoing debate.

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