Sexual orientation

The EA 10 prohibits discrimination against someone because of the protected characteristic of sexual orientation (section 12, EA 10).

Sexual orientation means a person’s sexual orientation towards individuals of:

• the same sex;

• the opposite sex; or

• either sex.

The protection also covers someone who is mistakenly believed to be gay, someone who is known not to be gay but is subjected to homophobic bullying, and someone who associates with someone who is gay. It also includes someone treated less favourably by an employer because they campaign for gay rights at work, irrespective of their own sexual orientation.