The States of Guernsey's vote last July, in favour of a
Policy Letter entitled "Proposals for a New Discrimination
Ordinance", resulted in much jubilance, with human rights
campaigners literally dancing in the streets outside of the Royal
Court building. That vote set the wheels in motion for a
significant change in the landscape of equality legislation in
Guernsey. More than a year on, we take stock of where we are
now.
We are often asked to opine on the status of anti-discrimination
law on the island, as many believe that it does not exist. In fact
it does exist, albeit to a limited extent: The Sex Discrimination
(Employment) (Guernsey) Ordinance 2005 renders it
unlawful for employers to discriminate against employees and
job applicants on grounds of sex, marriage or gender
reassignment. It is also automatically unfair, under different
legislation, to dismiss an employee on grounds of pregnancy and
maternity, or to subject an employee "to a detriment" on
a
