Parental status discrimination

Complaint highlights rights of parents and step-parents

The complainant was in a same-sex relationship. The complainant had a child with her former partner and complained that her current partner had been treated less favourably by being excluded from an appointment for the complainant’s child. The child’s mother had withdrawn permission for the partner to attend. The complainant alleged discrimination on the basis of relationship status and parental status in the provision of a service.

The complaint was rejected because the reason why the partner could not attend the appointment was because the legal parent of the child had withdrawn permission. The complainant’s current partner was not a legal parent of the child.