Section 14

A person (A) discriminates against another (B) if, because of a combination of two relevant protected characteristics, A treats B less favourably than A treats or would treat a person who does not share either of those characteristics. The relevant protected characteristics are— age; disability; gender reassignment; race religion or belief; sex; sexual orientation. For the purposes of establishing a contravention of this Act by virtue of subsection (1), B need not show that A's treatment of B is direct discrimination because of each of the characteristics in the combination (taken separately). But B cannot establish a contravention of this Act by virtue of subsection (1) if, in reliance on another provision of this Act or any other enactment, A shows that A's treatment of B is not direct discrimination because of either or both of the characteristics in the combination. Subsection (1) does not apply to a combination of characteristics that includes disability in circumstances where, if a claim of direct discrimination because of disability were to be brought, it would come within section 116 (special educational needs). A Minister of the Crown may by order amend this section so as to— make further provision about circumstances in which B can, or in which B cannot, establish a contravention of this Act by virtue of subsection (1); specify other circumstances in which subsection (1) does not apply. The references to direct discrimination are to a contravention of this Act by virtue of section 13.

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Source: legislation.gov.uk · retrieved 2026-09-04