Can Charities Discriminate? Charities And The Equality Act Exceptions

The issue of charities discriminating in the provision of their services is becoming increasingly divisive within the sector. In this article, we explore some of the current issues with which many charities are grappling, and look at the legal exceptions that charities may rely upon in making these difficult choices.

An issue facing many charities, and becoming increasingly divisive within the sector, relates to the rights of transgender people and discrimination in the provision of services by charities as it impacts on the transgender community.

Following the controversial decision of the Charity Commission last year to register LGB Alliance as a charity, there has been an ongoing debate about the purposes and activities of the charity, with strong opposition from another charity, Mermaids. This is the first case we have ever seen of one charity seeking to strip charitable status from another. Mermaids raised funds for the appeal via crowdfunding, and the Charity