Check what you can do about harassment

Summary

It’s also discrimination if someone harassed you because they think you have a protected characteristic. For example, it’s discrimination if you and your housemate are straight but your landlord made offensive jokes about you being gay. This is called ‘discrimination by perception’. If someone harassed you because of the protected characteristic of a person you know, it’s also discrimination. For example, it’s discrimination if you told your colleague that your partner was disabled and they started making upsetting comments about people with that disability. This is called ‘discrimination by association’. The harassment you experienced was discrimination under the Equality Act if both the following apply: * you were scared, humiliated or offended - or the person was trying to make you feel that way Harassment can include things like verbal abuse, bullying, jokes, making faces and posting comments about you on social media. It also includes sexual harassment. Sexual harassment can include things like commenting on your clothes or appearance, sending you messages with sexual content or making sexual comments - even if they’re not about you. For example, it’s sexual harassment if you.

Key information

• you didn’t want it to happen
• you were scared, humiliated or offended - or the person was trying to make you feel that way
• sexist or transphobic harassment
• your neighbour is harassing you
• your landlord is harassing you
• you’re in debt and your creditors are harassing you
• because of your race or religion
• because of your disability
• because you’re transgender
• the person has harassed you more than once
• the harassment made you feel distressed or alarmed
• they’ve harassed you more than once - this includes stalking

Practical guidance

• Source: Check what you can do about harassment

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