23rd September 2010

Equality Act 2010

What is the Equality Act 2010
As of 1st October a new UK law comes into effect called the Equality Act 2010
The law is designed to ensure equality to age, gender, race, disability, religion and sexual orientation. This is in our view is a good thing as you can no longer be discriminated against in an employment role if you are a swinger for example but more importantly pay for men, women, transgender, gay, bi or lesbians will all be equal.

What’s the concern?
The Equality Act 2010 however also prevents gender-based differential pricing which means that prices for admission and or membership must be equal for all genders.
In a nut shell as I understand it clubs will no longer be able to admit females for free, charge a medium fee for couples and an even higher price for single men.

An extract from the Equality Act 2010 reads.
“The Equality Act 2010 requires private members’ clubs to act in a non-discriminatory way. This means that clubs will no longer be able to restrict access to activities or benefits, or apply different conditions and fees for membership on the basis of any of the protected characteristics.”

The effect on swingers clubs
Now this will affect clubs and members alike and how the clubs will play this out will remain to be seen but they don’t have any choice other than to charge the same amount for everyone.

Bad for women
Now if you were a single female and enjoyed the perks of free entry then now you will have to pay the same as everyone else as clubs are unlikely to make it free for everyone.

Good or bad for clubs?
Previously clubs charged a fairly high premium for single men which generally helped prevented the clubs from becoming swamped with single men. Now if couples or single ladies were asked to pay that amount would they still go? I suspect customers will be lost so the clubs will have to decide what is the most they can charge without loosing any customers and equally be careful not to make fees to low that will result in clubs becoming swamped with single men.

Couples will most likely be asked to pay slightly more to cover the deficit from the fees lost from reducing the price for single men so the clubs may even gain from it.

Another aspect that may need to be considered is that clubs may no longer be allowed to hold couples only nights or exclude single men from certain events or areas and or facilities in a club.

Good for men
If you’re a single man then chances are you will be happy as the entry and membership costs are likely to be reduced.

What about websites?
This change in law also introduces a dilemma for website owners who charge different fees for membership to different genders.
I had planed to keep membership free for verified couples and females but wonder now if this would in the eyes of the law discriminate against men since they will be unable to become verified.

A way out maybe
The Act also quotes “DO continue to have separate rules for guests and members and different types of membership if you wish.”

This may introduce a way round a varied pricing structure.
Details of the Act can be found @ http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/equality_act_2010_what_do_i_n.asp

So can we still choose who we have sex with?
I wonder now if we are still legally allowed to have a sexual preference.
Whether you’re a man, woman or couple if you discriminate against another sexual gender or orientation then that is gender based discrimination.
Luckily groups or businesses with 25 or less members or attendees are exempt, as are groups primarily designed for one particular gender such as women only swimming sessions. So sorry guys you cant claim sexual discrimination for not being allowed to join the ladies only swim.