The Equality Bill has moved a step closer to becoming law, after the Legislative Council approved the amendments made by the House of Keys.

Most legislation begins its passage of consideration in the House of Keys, but because it was a weighty bill and the general election was looming, the Equality Bill started its passage in the Legislative Council to ensure it was not ’lost’.

The Equality Bill aims to combat discrimination in the workplace and in the provision of goods and services, on various grounds including race, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, and gender reassignment

The new House of Keys examined the bill and this week it returned to the upper chamber to consider the amendments made by MHKs, which included replacing the word transsexual with transgender, to remove what had come to be regarded as an outdated term that could also restrict provisions to those who had undergone a medical procedure.

In addition, the Keys introduced a provision for those who were ’asexual’, recognising those who have no sexual attraction to people of either sex.

Crucially, when the bill was drafted, same sex marriage and opposite sex civil partnerships had not been made legal.

It has since been legalised and a number of amendments were made to incorporate that into the legislation.

Royal Assent for the bill is expected towards the middle of the year, with the implementation of its provisions expected to be phased in over a 24-month period.

A government spokesman said: ’A detailed timetable will be published in due course, while it is also planned to recruit an officer to brief employers, workers and other interested parties on the effects of the bill and to advise of any necessary preparations well in advance of the bill coming into force.’