18(1)A person does not contravene this Part of this Act, so far as relating to sexual orientation, by doing anything which prevents or restricts a person who is not [F1within sub-paragraph (1A)] from having access to a benefit, facility or service—E+W+S
(a)the right to which accrued before 5 December 2005 (the day on which section 1 of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force), or
(b)which is payable in respect of periods of service before that date.
[F2(1A)A person is within this sub-paragraph if the person is—
(a)a man who is married to a woman, or
(b)a woman who is married to a man, or
(c)married to a person of the same sex in a relevant gender change case.
(1B)The reference in sub-paragraph (1A)(c) to a relevant gender change case is a reference to a case where—
(a)the married couple were of the opposite sex at the time of their marriage, and
(b)a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to one of the couple under the Gender Recognition Act 2004.]
(2)A person does not contravene this Part of this Act, so far as relating to sexual orientation, by providing married persons and civil partners (to the exclusion of all other persons) with access to a benefit, facility or service.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in Sch. 9 para. 18(1) substituted (13.3.2014 for specified purposes) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 4 para. 17(2); S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(j)(iii)
F2Sch. 9 para. 18(1A)(1B) inserted (13.3.2014 for specified purposes) by Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 (c. 30), s. 21(3), Sch. 4 para. 17(3); S.I. 2014/93, art. 3(j)(iii)