Sexuality Rights

Age of Consent

  • Gay Men – The age of consent for gay male sexual relationships in the UK is 16.
  • Gay Women – There are no specific laws about consensual lesbian sex.
  • Group sex – the law permits consensual group sex in private.

In the Workplace

The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 bans discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in employment and vocational training. This legislation specifically bans direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation because of sexual orientation.

In public

  • There is a chance of prosecution whenever someone does something of a sexual nature where a member of the public is likely to be offended.
  • Serious offences, even if no contact is made with the victim, can result in the person committing the offence being put on the sex offenders register.
  • Less serious cases tend to be specific to each individual set of circumstances, and there may be some difference of opinion about what is acceptable behaviour and what is not.

Same Sex Partnerships

  • At the moment same sex partnerships are not recognised in law. So there are currently no rights to property, pension, inheritance (unless specifically stated in a will), or to be recognised as next of kin.
  • In Scotland, there are rights to continue the lease on public housing if your same sex partner is the leaseholder and dies.

Links

You will find more detailed information at the links below.