UK Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act came into force from October 2010, replacing all previous anti-discrimination legislation, providing a modern, single legal framework to better tackle disadvantage and discrimination.

It legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in the wider society and makes the law easier to understand and strengthens protection in some situations.

UK Equality Act 2010

National LGBT Survey 2017

In July 2017 the Office for National Statistics launched a survey with the aim to understand the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people living in the UK. The links below provide access to the results and further information on this survey:

The 9 Protected Characteristics

Protected Characteristics: There are nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act. Under the Act, discrimination which happens because of one or more of these characteristics is unlawful.

Age

A person belonging to a particular age (for example 32 year olds) or range of ages (for example 18 to 30 year olds).

Disability

A person has a disability if she or he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Gender reassignment

The process of transitioning from one gender to another.

Marriage and civil partnership

Marriage is a union between a man and a woman or between a same-sex couple.

Same-sex couples can also have their relationships legally recognised as ‘civil partnerships’. Civil partners must not be treated less favourably than married couples (except where permitted by the Equality Act).

Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.

Race

Refers to the protected characteristic of race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.

Religion and belief

Religion refers to any religion, including a lack of religion. Belief refers to any religious or philosophical belief and includes a lack of belief. Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.

Sex

A man or a woman.

Sexual orientation

Whether a person’s sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes.

Age

A person belonging to a particular age (for example 32 year olds) or range of ages (for example 18 to 30 year olds).

Data on County Durham’s population by age and gender is available through the Population Reports theme.

Related Factsheets:

Disability

A person has a disability if she or he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Most people suffer periods of ill health at some time, but these are usually temporary problems that do not have a sustained effect on day to day activities, such as going to work or socialising with friends and family. However, some health problems and disabilities are long-lasting and reduce a person’s ability to carry out the activities people usually do day-to-day and which most of us take for granted.

Useful Links:

2011 Census Data for County Durham

  • In the 2011 Census 26,653 people recorded themselves as having a LLTI that limited day to day activities in County Durham representing 28% of the resident population in the county. This was higher than the 21.6% recorded across England & Wales,
  • Within this group 13,878 people of working age (aged 16 to 64) recorded themselves as having a LLTI that limited day to day activities in County Durham representing 22.7% of the resident working age population in the county. This was higher than the 16.2% recorded across England & Wales.
Long Term Health Problem or Disability in County Durham
Area All People Day-to-day activities limited a lot Day-to-day activities limited a little Day-to-day activities not limited
County Durham 513,242 62,875 58,411 391,956
North East 2,596,886 285,087 277,105 2,034,694
England and Wales 56,075,912 4,769,712 5,278,729 46,027,471

ONS Crown Copyright Reserved [from Nomis]; QS303EW – Long-term health problem or disability

Gender Reassignment

The process of transitioning from one gender to another.

Marriage and Civil Partnerships

Marriage is a union between a man and a woman or between a same-sex couple.

Same-sex couples can also have their relationships legally recognised as ‘civil partnerships’. Civil partners must not be treated less favourably than married couples (except where permitted by the Equality Act).

Marriage and Civil Partnerships in County Durham 2011 Census
Area All usual residents aged 16+ Single (never married or never registered a same-sex civil partnership) Married In a registered same-sex civil partnership Separated (but still legally married or still legally in a same-sex civil partnership) Divorced or formerly in a same-sex civil partnership which is now legally dissolved Widowed or surviving partner from a same-sex civil partnership
County Durham 425,258 137,980 200,826 759 10,708 41,207 33,778
North East 2,134,449 734,910 972,550 3,918 55,081 201,201 166,789
England % Wales 45,496,780 15,730,275 21,196,684 104,942 1,195,882 4,099,330 3,169,667

ONS Crown Copyright Reserved [from Nomis]; KS103EW – Marital and civil partnership status

Pregnancy and Maternity

Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.

Useful Links:

Race

Refers to the protected characteristic of race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.

Data on County Durham’s ethnic population is available through the Population Reports theme.

Useful Links

Religion and Belief

Religion refers to any religion, including a lack of religion. Belief refers to any religious or philosophical belief and includes a lack of belief. Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.

Data on religion across County Durham is available through the Population Reports theme.

Useful Links

Sex

A man or a woman

Data on population demographics across County Durham is available through the Population Reports theme.

Useful Links

Sexual Orientation

Whether a person’s sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes.

The latest bulletin from the Office for National Statistics on Sexual Orientation provides estimates on the sexual orientation of the North East population. The table below provides some detail from this bulletin on the North East and provides percentages. Using these figures and a broad assumption that this distribution is even across all north east authorities, broad estimates for County Durham can been calculated.

Estimates North East County Durham
Categories Estimate (000’s) % Estimate (000’s)
Heterosexual or straight 2065 96.4% 418
Gay or lesbian 25 1.2% 51
Bisexual 6 0.3% 1
Other 7 0.3% 2
Don’t know or refuse 39 1.8% 79