Round #908

What are the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 and which ones cannot be justified under any circumstances?

Under the Equality Act 2010 in the United Kingdom, there are nine protected characteristics that employers, service providers, and other organizations must not discriminate against. These characteristics are: 1. **Age**: Discrimination based on age is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 2. **Disability**: Disability discrimination is prohibited in all circumstances. This includes direct discrimination (treating someone less favorably because of their disability), indirect discrimination (putting someone at a disadvantage through policies or practices that are not discriminatory on their face but have a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities), harassment, and victimization. 3. **Gender reassignment**: Gender reassignment discrimination is prohibited in all circumstances. This includes direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimization. 4. **Marriage and civil partnership**: Discrimination based on marriage or civil partnership status is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 5. **Pregnancy and maternity**: Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 6. **Race**: Race discrimination is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 7. **Religion or belief**: Religion or belief discrimination is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 8. **Sex**: Sex discrimination is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. 9. **Sexual orientation**: Sexual orientation discrimination is generally prohibited, except where it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. The protected characteristics that cannot be justified under any circumstances are disability and gender reassignment. This means that organizations must not discriminate against people with disabilities or transgender individuals in any way, regardless of the circumstances.

The nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010 are: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. None of these can be justified under any circumstances.