1 October 2010
Equality Act 2010 (England, Wales, Scotland)
Legal UK
The Equality Act 2010 consolidated anti-discrimination laws in England, Wales, and Scotland, making it unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation, gender reassignment, sex, and other protected characteristics. (Northern Ireland maintains separate legislation.)
Impact & Significance
Established comprehensive protections for LGBTQ+ people across Great Britain, covering work, education, goods, and services. Gender reassignment is recognised as a protected characteristic.
Reference Record
- Date
- 1 October 2010
- Era
- 2010-2019
- Sources
- 2
Editorially reviewed — reviewed · last reviewed 2026-09-01.
Topic Guides
Equality Act 2010 and EHRC Guidance The Equality Act 2010 sets the legal framework, while EHRC guidance and statutory Codes of Practice shape how organisations interpret duties in services, public functions and associations. UK Equality Law, Workplaces, Schools and Data UK equality law became more practical through service protections, workplace inclusion programmes, schools duties and official LGBTQ+ data collection.
Questions This Event Helps Answer
Q What was Section 28? Section 28 was a provision of the Local Government Act 1988 that restricted local authorities from promoting homosexuality or teaching that same-sex relationships were acceptable as family relationships. Q What is the Gender Recognition Act 2004? The Gender Recognition Act 2004 created a UK legal process for some trans people to obtain recognition of their acquired gender. Q How did UK age-of-consent reform change LGBTQ+ law? It moved the law from partial decriminalisation toward equal treatment by lowering and then equalising the age of consent. Q How did equality law change public services and workplaces? It moved LGBTQ+ equality into services, employment, schools and official data rather than leaving it only as criminal-law reform.
