Commentary on Sections Part 2: Equality: Key Concepts Chapter 1: Protected characteristics Effect
44.This section defines the protected characteristic of marriage and civil partnership. People who are not married or civil partners do not have this characteristic.
45.The section also explains that people who have or share the common characteristics of being married or of being a civil partner can be described as being in a marriage or civil partnership. A married man and a woman in a civil partnership both share the protected characteristic of marriage and civil partnership.