9.00
Coffee and registration
9.30
Campaigner and Founder of Pink Weddings welcome address
Gino Meriano
9.45
The Equality Act and Single Equality Bill - explained
Insight about the Act and how it will play an important role when recognising gay consumer rights in the retail and goods sector.
What is Equality? Equality is about making sure people are treated fairly and given fair chances. It involves ensuring that all people receive and have access to the same rights and standards of service within society. It is not about treating everyone the same, but recognising that everyone's needs are respected and met in different ways.
10.30
Media Implications
Striking the balance between taste and offence Integrating your exiting brand into the gay community, LGBT sensitivity and diversity into mainstream business-to-business advertising
11.15
Refreshments
11.30
Public Sector
How ready are public services to ensure they eliminate overt and hidden discrimination, what steps are Authorities taking to police the Act.
12.15
Lunch
13.15
Gay Business
Equality works both ways, are gay owned or gay niche businesses up for demonstrating equality too.
13.45
The Retail and Goods Sector
How will the new law impact business, will there truly be a change? How does this affect policies, training and customer service throughout the Retail and Goods sector.
14.30
Impact on Civil Partnership Act
A unique insight to the changes over the last five years and how the change will see closure of businesses and growth of a new industry.
15.00
Refreshments
15.15
UK licensed Venues
At present the Regulations prevent local authorities from refusing to licence a venue which provides weddings but refuses to offer Civil Partnership ceremonies. We seek a change in this law.
Any venue that currently holds a licence or wishes to apply MUST provide the service of Marriage and Civil Partnerships in order for a licence to be granted, a year on and will the Equality Act impact on this hidden law.
15.45
Excluded Groups
What businesses or services are excluded? Where should the line be struck between personal beliefs and the law
16.15
The Future
16.30
Debate
Is society truly ready to embrace gay families into the fabric of life in the UK? This is your chance to have your say.
17.00
Close
Francis Gibb "discrimination is a growth industry".