Health Protection (Coronavirus) (International Travel) (Scotland) Regulations 2020: Equality Impact Assessment

Sexual Orientation

The aforementioned UK Government Equalities LGBT Survey in 2017 reported that 29% of LGBT people had experienced an incident in the previous 12 months involving someone they lived with because they were LGBT.^[64] There may, therefore, be a negative impact on some LGBT people who self-isolate with someone they live with, including as a result of their sexual orientation.

The Scottish Government’s Covid-19 guidance on health and wellbeing, including for individuals feeling anxious or depressed, is again designed to provide assistance, while Ready Scotland’s additional support page^[65] also provides links to support and guidance for anyone struggling with their mental health and well-being.

In addition, as described above, provisions in the Regulations allow individuals to leave their household to seek medical assistance; to access public services (including social services or victims’ services) where access to the service is critical to the person’s well-being, and the service cannot be provided if the person remains at their accommodation, and to avoid injury, illness, or to escape the risk of harm. These provisions may help to lessen any potential negative impacts on people as a result of their sexual orientation.

Summary: Existing support and guidance available, and provisions in the measures, such as being able to leave the house to seek medical assistance, to access public services and to avoid injury, illness, or to escape the risk of harm, may help to protect people from victimisation and harassment due to their sexual orientation.