Does your Local Authority Equality Policy exclude sex as a protected characteristic?

[bananaistheanswer]

Inspired by Jean Hatchet's posts on twitter, I checked mine and colour me shocked, it's been excluded.

Attached below is the list from the EA2010 with my LA's interpretation alongside - note the wording We believe our responsibility for equality is wider than those areas covered by the Equality Act 2010

So removing sex from the list of protected characteristics widens the scope of the EA2010?

So what's your LA equality policy like?

My council puts sex and sexual orientation in the same category . And separarate from gender reassignment. That's wrong, isn't it?

Fife has sex as main heading but then has gender/sex underneath it and:-

"Gender/sex is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, and refers to a man or a woman of any age. It does not include gender reassignment or sexual orientation, which are protected as separate characteristics.

As a Council we are committed to ensuring everyone has equal access to our services, whether service user, customers or staff.

We offer staff a range of support mechanisms including our Getting the Balance Right policy, which recognises that employees need a variety of flexible working options to meet their needs."

As sex is the main heading this seems OK.

Mine still has 'sex' in the list of protected characteristics, but then goes on to talk about the 'gender' of the workforce, etc, and doesn't really refer to 'sex' again.

Bloody prudes!! I shall write and point out their error.

Actually, I've started crossing out 'gender' if I'm filling in a form that uses it, and replacing it with 'sex' alongside a note saying why. Usually something along the lines that gender is a social construct designed to keep women in their place and being male or female is an actual BIOLOGICAL fact/reality.

Hang on a mo... Just seen this on Essex's website!

My children think it's amusing that I'm making political statements on their forms, etc.
My 13yo dd has started correcting teachers (politely pointing out) and other children if they use 'gender' in place of 'sex', with an explanation of why they're not the same, etc.

Mine says sex and gender reassignment, like wot it should.

Appears that Essex have confused sex and gender after all as they have sections labelled as "Sex" but then give charts under "gender" - see images attached

The NHS constitution also refers to gender not sex.

Which is absolutely bonkers as most services for which I use the NHS for are related to my biological sex not my gender, e.g. smear test, contraception.

Not sure who to write to about this, but it looks like this is re-writing the Equality Act by stealth.

You could tweet them Fairyflaps

I've tweeted NHS England and Essex County Council. I shall construct a letter to my MP today as well.

@Fairyflaps, I agree, it really does. I've already emailed the equalities team of my local nhs trust to point out that they're excluding sex.

This is what I've written. I just kept it short and to the point.

@Floeer good idea. Someone has suggested the hashtag #SexMatters

The northern LA where I live uses the word sex.

Interesting revelation from Sarah Brown. I'm not any sort of expert in equality and diversity policies, but is what she did actually legal?

Mine (rural) does not mention 'gender'. At all. Farmers, hey

Interesting. Mine has noted
There are nine protected characteristics that provide protection from discrimination for employees. These are:

• Age 
• Disability 
• Gender
• Sexual orientation 
• Race 
• Gender reassignment  
• Marriage or civil partnership
• Religion or belief 
• Pregnancy and maternity 

There are eight protected characteristics of people who use services. These are:

• Age (over 18)
• Disability
• Sex
• Gender reassignment  
• Pregnancy and maternity 
• Race 
• Religion or belief 
• Sexual orientation

So employees aren't protected from sex discrimation at work - twaddle! Thank goodness the public are though...they seem confused...

I've just tweeted NHS England to point out their error & asked if there was a reason for it.

You know that Sarah brown is trans? It seems there was a vote. Interesting point.

AArgh
Local authority says gender and gender reassignment (but it only mentions trans sexuals).
County Council says protected characteristics are "sex changes" (!) and "men and women" but I think it's been written in simplified language.

Mine is also farmer and about 15 years behind everywhere else and I can't imagine they would even realise that there might be a trans person in the area and the word sex might upset the old bids

Not sure who to write to about this, but it looks like this is re-writing the Equality Act by stealth

Definitely is. Can't change the law? Change what the words in the law mean.

My LA actually only has 3 lines about Equality and just say they will adhere to the EA so pretty simple!

Okay so sending letter off to my MP. He actually seems quite clued up and involved so hopefully it will engage him. Although his main priorities do appear to be traffic and housing

Mine says:

"The Council aims to ensure that no job applicants, employees, residents or service users receive less favourable treatment on any grounds which cannot be shown to be justified. This covers race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, marital status, responsibility for children or other dependants, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age, trade union or political activities, social class, where the person lives or spent convictions."

and

"The Council aims.........to monitor its employment processes by age group, disability, gender, racial group and religion or belief and take action to address any inequalities that are apparent"

Mine doesn't have sex either. Eternal vigilence is bloody hard work

Looks like mine, large Northern town has done away with sex too (this draft was 2017)

Certain characteristics are defined as protected by the Equality Act (2010); these are; age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.