The guidance on the Equality Act 2006, issued last week, forbidsdiscrimination on the actual or perceived basis of sexuality orreligion, and it clarifies the situation for religious adoptionagencies.
It requires schools to treat homophobic bullying as seriously as anyother form of bullying, but it does not stop faith schools from teachingchildren that their religion regards homosexuality as a sin. Teachersare also allowed to tell pupils their views on homosexuality if childrenask.
Voluntary adoption agencies will be able to opt out of serving gaycouples if they can prove they have religious grounds for doing so andprovided they refer the couple to an agency who will help them. But anyadoption agency acting on behalf of the local authority or apublicly-funded service will be unable to opt out of the regulations andcannot discriminate.
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