To think ALL of us are protected by the Equality Act?

[RobotValkyrie]

I've just stumbled upon this gem:

mobile.twitter.com/cmacf76/status/1492052532843134993

EHRC’s attempt to create a hierarchy of human rights in Great Britain is a very real threat to everyone, particularly those of us protected by the Equality Act. That is why we have taken swift action to call for an international review of it’s status.

For the record, protected characteristics under the Equality Act are (in alphabetical order):

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

Last time I checked, everybody has an age and a sex, and a lot of people would also recognise themselves as having a race, sexual orientation, and religion or beliefs.
But apparently that dude on Twitter seems to think that some people are more equal than others, and that some of us are in fact NOT protected under the Equality Act. Like our protected characteristic doesn't exist or matter...?

YANBU: of course everyone is protected under the Equality Act
YABU: no, the Equality Act is only meant to protects specific minorities

It's not about having those characteristics. The law is there to prevent discrimination to people within those categories. To give equal opportunities.

This sounds very close to a quote from Nancy Kelley, the CEO of Stonewall, who said: “The politicisation of the UK’s human rights body has placed trans people in the firing line, but this attempt to create a hierarchy of human rights in the UK is a very real threat to everyone, particularly those of us protected by the Equality Act”

amp.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/11/lgbt-groups-call-for-anti-trans-ehrc-to-lose-international-status

Which I find absolutely incredibly hypocritical!!

What has happened and is in the news today is that Stonewall are trying to discredit the U.K. regulatory body on human rights (EHRC).

The EHRC used to be heavily influenced and led by Stonewall, and have only just wriggled free from their undue influence on a body that is supposed to be for all protected characteristics.

The EHRC and many other public bodies have recently left a Stonewall scheme (which was a significant money-earner for Stonewall).

This really feels like Stonewall throwing their toys out of the pram.

See also

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-60331962

amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jan/30/observer-view-ehrc-decision-scotland-gender-recognition-reforms

@blackteaplease

It's not about having those characteristics. The law is there to prevent discrimination to people within those categories. To give equal opportunities.

Yes, but anyone could be discriminated against on the basis of their age or sex, therefore the equality act is there to protect everyone.

Yes DP's company recently adopted a strategy 'to increase the number of employees with protected characteristics'. He tried to point out that 100% of employees had protected characteristics and they'd have to state their aim more precisely if they meant something specific but apparently it fell on deaf ears!