Petition · past parliament

Add tattoos to the protected characteristics under The Equality Act.

Closed 143 signatures

What the petition asks

Stop discrimination towards people with tattoos by signing this petition to add tattoos to the list of protected characteristics. This would mean employers cannot force employees to cover visible tattoos, as long as these aren't deemed offensive language or to any of the 9 existing characteristics.
1 in 3 young adults in the UK have at least 1 tattoo today and this is still growing. Tattoos are part of different cultures throughout the world and are simply part of a person when they have them done. It is offensive and should be illegal for an employer to say to someone to cover their skin because they don’t like someone’s tattoo(s).

Timeline

18 Sep 2018 Petition opened for signatures
18 Mar 2019 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 143
Status Closed
Opened 18 Sep 2018
Closed 18 Mar 2019

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.