Protected Characteristic - Sexual Orientation

Under the Equality Act 2010 sexual orientation is identified as a protected characteristic. This means that sexual orientation is a legally defined group with legal protections.

For more details of the Equality Act (2010) click here.   

Sexual Orientation is a person's sexual orientation towards: 

(a) persons of the same sex, 
(b) persons of the opposite sex, or 
(c) Persons of either sex.

In relation to the protected characteristic of sexual orientation:

• (a) a reference to a person who has a particular protected characteristic is a reference to a person who is of a particular sexual orientation;
• (b) a reference to persons who share a protected characteristic is a reference to persons who are of the same sexual orientation.

Mersey Care is committed to equality for all and that includes our LGBT workforce. In the past we have taken part in the annual review of Stonewalls workplace equality index and recieved permission to use the logo for 2013 for being one of the top perforrmers. For more information about Stonewall please go towww.stonewall.org.uk .

In October 2011 the trust  received the Navajo Charter Award for its committment to equality for LGBT service users, carers and staff.  This will be reviewed for 2015. The awards are presented on IDAHO (international day against homophobia)        

Below we have a wide range of resources and reports about different aspects of sexual orientation. This is in relation to employment, service delivery and general issues that relate to the wider LGBT community. 

Five LGBT Ways to Wellbeing

Pride in Health Liverpool

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation

Rainbow Lives is aimed at people working in health and well being, particularly residential and home care of the elderly. It is a resource to raise awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) needs later in life.  To watch and listen to some experiences older members of the LGBT community use the link below

Rainbow Lives: Raising awareness of older LGBT needs in the caring environment.

Being the Gay One Experiences of Lesbian gay and bisexual people working in the health and social care sectors

Sexual Orientation and the Workplace ACAS 2005

The Double Glazed Glass Ceiling Lesbians in the Workplace

Stonewall Health Briefing Ethnicity

Stonewall Health Briefing Disability

Stonewall Health Briefing Mental Health

Stonewall Health Briefing Domestic Abuse

Stonewall Health Briefing Bisexuality

Stonewall Health Briefing Experiences of Health Care

Prescription for Change Lesbian and Bisexual womens health check 2008

Gay and Bisexual Men's Health Survey 

Sexual Orientation A guide to the NHS

Planning for later years: Age Concern

LGB needs in a caring environment   

Safe to be me

Hate Crime

Hate crime is defined as “any hate incident which constitutes a criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person. This may be because of their race, transgender status, disability, religion or sexual orientation.” A hate incident is ”any incident that may or may not constitute a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.” 

Useful information and advice and resources can be obtained from the True Vision Website

There are a number of Hate Crime reporting centres in Merseyside.

Merseyside Police

Knowsley Council

National information and guidance about hate crime is available at Stophate

Social Attitudes  

Beyond Tolerance: Making Sexual Orientation a public matter (2009)

Commission for equality and human rights.

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