Reform UK and the Equality Act: Why This Matters for LGBT+ People

Reform UK has stated that, if elected, it would repeal the Equality Act 2010 and roll back diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) policies across public bodies. The party argues that current equality legislation and DEI frameworks have gone too far and are creating unfairness, particularly towards white, heterosexual men and working-class boys. Some supporters describe this as “reverse discrimination” and claim that institutions are prioritising identity over merit.

Examples often cited in this debate include disparities in educational attainment among white working-class boys and concerns about how public bodies address crime and community relations. Reform UK figures have also argued that equality structures in government should be abolished, suggesting that the law has become overly bureaucratic and politically driven.

Supporters of repeal argue that:

• The Equality Act is overly complex and burdensome for employers.

• DEI initiatives can result in preferential treatment rather than equal treatment.

• A shift toward a strictly “merit-based” system would improve fairness and social cohesion.

• Public institutions should be politically neutral rather than guided by identity-based frameworks.

However, critics argue that repealing the Equality Act would remove or weaken core legal protections against discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender reassignment. The Equality Act 2010 consolidated decades of anti-discrimination law and provides protection in employment, education, housing, and the provision of goods and services.

Concerns raised by equality and human rights organisations include:

• The potential loss of clear legal recourse for LGBT+ people experiencing workplace harassment or discrimination.

• Reduced obligations on public bodies to actively consider the impact of their decisions on minority communities.

• The risk that without statutory frameworks, protections could become inconsistent or dependent on future political priorities.

For LGBT+ communities in particular, the Equality Act underpins rights that many now consider foundational — from protection against unfair dismissal to safeguards in schools, healthcare settings and public services. While debates about how equality policy should be implemented are legitimate in a democracy, the removal of the legislative framework itself would represent a significant structural change.

It is also important to consider how intersectionality shapes this debate. The term was developed by legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw to describe how different aspects of a person’s identity — such as sexual orientation, gender identity, race, disability, religion, class or age — can overlap and interact to create distinct experiences of discrimination.

For many LGBT+ people, identity does not exist in isolation. A Black lesbian woman, a disabled gay man, a trans person of faith, or a working-class bisexual young person may experience discrimination that reflects more than one characteristic at the same time. The Equality Act recognises multiple protected characteristics within a single legal framework, which allows individuals to challenge discrimination that reflects these intersecting identities.

If that framework were repealed or significantly weakened, those who sit at multiple margins could be disproportionately affected. For example:

• LGBT+ people of colour may face both racism and homophobia or transphobia in employment or public services.

• Disabled LGBT+ people may encounter barriers that relate to both accessibility and prejudice.

• LGBT+ migrants or asylum seekers may experience compounded vulnerabilities linked to nationality, race and sexuality.

• Older LGBT+ people in care settings may face ageism alongside discrimination related to sexual orientation or gender reassignment.

Intersectionality reminds us that equality protections are not abstract categories. They are safeguards that reflect the complex realities of people’s lives. Structural changes to equality law may appear neutral in theory, but in practice their impact is shaped by existing inequalities.

At Crawley LGBT, we believe in informed discussion grounded in evidence and respect. We recognise that concerns about social mobility, educational outcomes and fairness deserve serious attention. However, equality under the law is not a zero-sum concept. Protecting one group from discrimination does not require reducing protections for another.

Our position is clear: legal safeguards that protect LGBT+ people — and all protected groups — from discrimination, harassment and unequal treatment must remain in place. Any reform of equality policy should strengthen fairness and social cohesion, not weaken protections for those who rely on them.

We encourage our community to engage critically with the facts, review the policy proposals in full, and consider what changes to equality law would mean in practice for LGBT+ people in Crawley and across the UK.