Sexual Orientation Law Reform
Since 1 January 2007 it has been unlawful to discriminate on grounds of sexual orientation in the provision of goods, facilities and services, education and public functions. Up until then, the law only applied to employment and vocational training.
The Commission recommends that strategic action is required to strengthen legal protections for LGB individuals. This includes:
- Reform of the sexual orientation equality law against discrimination and harassment
- Introduce legislation that permits same – sex marriage and provides heterosexual couples access to civil partnerships on the same basis as that available to same sex couples
- Extend the scope of adoption legislation so as to allow unmarried couples, those in civil partnership and same sex couples to apply to be considered as adoptive parents