Gender
(Male, Female, Transgender or Non-binary)
If someone treats you less favourably because you are a different gender to someone else.
For example, where you are female and are treated less favourably than someone who is male.
Civil status
(single, married, separated, divorced, widowed, or in a civil partnership.)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a different civil status to someone else.
For example, where you are divorced and are treated less favourably than someone who is married.
Family status
(being pregnant, a parent, an acting parent of a child, or a carer of a person with a disability who requires continued care.)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a different family status to someone else.
For example, where you are pregnant and another person is not.
(Note: some situations falling within this ground may also fall within the gender ground.)
Sexual orientation
(heterosexual; homosexual; or bisexual)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a different sexual orientation to someone else.
For example, you are bisexual and are treated less favourably than someone who is not.
Age
(only applies to people aged 18 or over)
If someone treats you less favourably because you are older or younger than someone else and it is without a good reason (‘objective justification’).
For example, where you are a young employee and are treated less favourably than someone with the same experience who is older.
(Note: this ground does not cover alleged discrimination against children in schools.)
Religious belief
(including religious background and those who have no religious beliefs.)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a different religion to someone else, or because you do not have a religion and someone else does.
For example, a person of Jewish beliefs is treated less favourably than someone who has Roman Catholic beliefs or who has no religious beliefs.
Traveller community
If someone treats you less favourably because you are a member of the Traveller community and someone else is not.
Race
(skin colour, nationality, ethnic origin, or national origin)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a different skin colour, nationality or ethnicity to someone else.
For example, if you are a particular colour, nationality or ethnicity and are treated less favourably than someone who is another colour, nationality or ethnicity.
Disability
(intellectual, mental and/or physical disability)
If someone treats you less favourably because you have a disability and someone else has a different disability or does not have a disability.
Housing Assistance
(including housing assistance payment (HAP), rent supplement, or another social welfare payment)
If someone treats you less favourably because you are receiving rent supplement, housing assistance payment (HAP), or another type of social welfare payment and someone else is not.
