Equality Policy

Long before equality laws were enacted, Freemasonry stood against political, racial and religious discrimination. 

People of all backgrounds met on the square. The Masonic principle of tolerance continues to govern our actions today, and this policy is intended to help Freemasons navigate what can sometimes be a complex area.

In the course of your Freemasonry you must not discriminate against, harass or victimise anybody on the basis of:

1. race or sexual orientation.
2. sex or gender reassignment except that only biological men are permitted to join UGLE Lodges or Chapters and only biological women HFAF or OWF Lodges or Chapters. See Appendix for more detail.
3. religion or belief except that only those who believe in a Supreme Being are eligible to become and to remain Freemasons.
4. age except where discrimination can be objectively justified, for example age-discriminatory entrance criteria for a New and Young Mason’s Club.
5. disability. Lodges must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate a disabled person. See Appendix for more detail.

The local Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary should be informed immediately if a complaint about discrimination, harassment or victimisation in the course of Freemasonry is received. This policy is subject to any applicable local laws in Districts.

A breach of this policy is liable to constitute activity which may bring Freemasonry into disrepute for the purposes of the Masonic disciplinary system.

This policy only applies to behaviour in a Masonic context, but similar behaviour elsewhere could constitute Masonic misconduct and be subject to disciplinary action.

Board of General Purposes
17 March 2026

Appendix

All references in this Appendix to seeking advice mean asking someone professionally qualified or consulting your Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Secretary.

Sex and gender reassignment discrimination

Only biological men are eligible to join UGLE Lodges and only biological women are eligible to join HFAF or OWF Lodges. How someone perceives themselves, how they present, whether they have had medical interventions for gender reassignment, their possession or not of a Gender Recognition Certificate, and the legal status of their sex or gender in another jurisdiction are irrelevant for this purpose.

Subject to the previous paragraph, nobody may be discriminated against on the basis of a gender reassignment, and nobody becomes ineligible to join because of their gender reassignment. If applicable, appropriate adjustments should be made to the dress code to accommodate a Freemason who has undergone gender reassignment.

Disability discrimination

It is a privilege to assist everyone to be able to enjoy their Freemasonry. All reasonable adjustments should be made so that a disabled person can participate. What is reasonable will depend on the disability and the circumstances. The disabled person may be best placed to suggest adjustments.

Unless the adjustments are agreed by the disabled person, or he agrees that no adjustments are required, the Lodge should seek advice.
 

Applicants and other non-members

Lodges must make reasonable adjustments not just for their members but also for others such as applicants, visitors or guests at white table events. No applicant should be rejected on the grounds of their disability unless advice has been taken.

Ritual

Advice is available from the Grand Secretary’s Office on variations to the ritual to accommodate a candidate’s disability. If a candidate does not require variations but is struggling to learn the ritual, for example because of a neuro-diverse condition, there is guidance available. Lodges should reflect on the purposes of learning ritual and consider how those purposes might be met for an individual who is struggling to memorise their entire contribution, despite his genuine efforts. Nobody who has tried his best should be made to feel unwelcome for imperfect ritual.

Harassment

You must not subject someone to unwanted conduct related to their disability. That could be a joke, a comment or an action or omission. If you realise you have subjected someone to unwanted conduct related to their disability then you should apologise, not repeat the conduct and prevent others in the Lodge from repeating the conduct.

Meeting Places

If a meeting place will not accommodate the needs of a Lodge’s member or visitor who has a disability, the Lodge should consider alternative venues.

Exclusions

A Lodge can exclude any member for “due cause”. An exclusion:

1. for a disability will never be for “due cause”.
2. for reasons which have been caused or made worse by disability should only be proposed after advice has been taken.
3. for reasons unrelated to a members’ disability may still require adjustments to the process so that the member being balloted for exclusion is not at a substantial disadvantage compared to someone without that disability.

Victimisation

If a Freemason makes a complaint, or helps someone else make a complaint, about disability discrimination or disability harassment he must not be victimised for doing so. Neither can he be victimised because it is believed that he will make such a complaint. This will usually apply even if the complaint of discrimination or harassment has no merit.

Further Guidance

This appendix is intended to give general guidance and is not a substitute for legal advice tailored to individual circumstances, where required.

Please contact your Metropolitan, Provincial or District Grand Lodge if you have any questions.