Question

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they consider Bondage, Domination, Sadism, and Masochism to be a protected characteristic within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010.

The Equality Act (2010) contains nine protected characteristics, which include age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Section 12 defines sexual orientation as being an orientation toward people of the same, oppositie, or either sex. The Equality Act protects orientation – sexual acts such as those described are not included within that definition.