Policy Letter

The Committee for Employment & Social Security’s policy letter on the Discrimination Ordinance: Grounds of i) Religion or Belief and ii) Sexual Orientation was considered by the States on the 3rd and 4th of November 2021.

Click the button below to access the policy letter.

Tim Barker Dean of Guernsey

Sexual Orientation

The States agreed with the Committee for Employment and Social Security's proposals to protect the grounds of sexual orientation.

An amendment proposed by: Deputy Burford and seconded by: Deputy Dudley-Owen gave an indication of the areas of potential conflict that might arise when discussing sex and gender. Whilst the amendment was lost in relation to sexual orientation, it provided an insight into how a debate, including sex discrimination (due in the last phase) or gender discrimination, might require careful consideration of wording and definitions.

Religion or Belief

The States agreed with the Committee for Employment and Social Security's proposals to protect religious belief. However the States did not agree with the proposals to protect secular belief.