Protection of freedom of expression (sexual orientation) — 9 Jan 2008 at 19:30

The majority voted against including a freedom of speech clause into Part III (racial hatred) of the Public Order Act 1986,[1][2] which would have said:

Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion of, criticism of or expressions of antipathy towards, conduct relating to a particular sexual orientation, or urging persons of a particular sexual orientation to refrain from or modify conduct related to that orientation.

The precise implementation of this motion, had it been passed, would have been to insert a new section 13A into schedule 22 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill[3] that, when enforced, would have inserted a new section 29JA into the part of the Public Order Act 1986 which had been heavily amended by the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.[4]

There doesn't appear to be an up to date version of the Public Order Act 1986 which is anywhere accessible to the public.

• [1] Public Order Act 1986, Wikipedia
• [2] Public Order Act 1986, Statute Law Database (official, but very out of date)
• [3] Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill, Schedule 22, published 11 November 2007
• [4] Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, Wikipedia.

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