Stonewall Scotland | 
Stonewall Scotland has welcomed the House of Lords vote on 21st March which introduced new protections against discrimination for gay people in the provision of goods and services.
Peers voted by 168 votes to 122 in support of regulations, part of the new Equality Act, which will now be introduced on 30 April. They will make it unlawful to discriminate against lesbian and gay people in the provision of services ranging from healthcare to hotel rooms.
Calum Irving, Stonewall Scotland Director, said: "We're delighted that the House of Lords has supported these new equality regulations, which will make a real difference to the lives of lesbian and gay people in Scotland. They recognise that gay people deserve the same legal protection against discrimination as everyone else."
The Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 make it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods, facilities and services on grounds of sexual orientation. Faith based adoption agencies are exempt from the regulations until December 2008.
Notes
The government accepted Stonewall’s amendments to the Equality Bill at the end of 2005 to outlaw discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the grounds of sexual orientation.
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