Group watching political developments on sexual orientation discrimination
By Amanda Dale
A group fighting to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation hopes to push through legislation by "education and respectful dialogue".
Two Words and a Comma says it will be monitoring the political arena closely in the coming weeks to see if an amendment to the Human Rights Act 1981 will be tabled.
Former Culture Minister Dale Butler announced in April an amendment would be forthcoming when Parliament reconvened. However, since his resignation from Cabinet, Government has been quiet on the issue.
Last month, the Human Rights Commission said it feared the amendment had fallen off the legislative agenda.
Chairwoman Venous Memari said in a letter to Amnesty International Bermuda that a number of proposed amendments to the Human Rights Act were likely to be tabled this month — but that they failed to "prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation".
"Clearly, this glaring omission is a violation of all human rights laws and the right to human dignity," she wrote.
The HRC, Amnesty and the Bermuda Bar Association are all calling on Government to amend the Act, to protect the rights of all gay, lesbian and bisexual people.
Two Words and a Comma meanwhile, is lobbying MPs to consider the change in the law in the spirit of non-discrimination.
The group, formed in April 2007 to ensure equal rights for all, says its strategy will now focus on "education and respectful dialogue".
Campaign co-organiser Ayo Johnson said: "We don't know if the amendment will be tabled over the next couple of months. The Throne Speech may provide some clues but even then one can't be sure.
"One thing we do know is that the political landscape is very fluid and anything can happen. So we are monitoring the political situation very closely, keeping channels of communication open with the MPs and, most importantly, educating ourselves and others on the issue."
He said supporters were "confident that the amendment will be debated in the near future".
"It is a simple non-discrimination provision that will benefit all of us. Our job is to ensure that people understand this and then communicate this understanding to their MPs," he said.
"The amendment would make it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation in certain key areas, such as the provision of goods, facilities and services, housing, contracts, and employment."
A recent workshop aimed to provide people with knowledge to educate others on the issue and to lobby MPs for change. The forum included examining the arguments of those against the amendment, and practised responses.
For example, said Mr. Johnson, polls in 2006 and 2007 showed up to 90 percent of Bermudians do not support discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.
He said: "If you support the principle of non-discrimination, you should support the Two Words amendment."
The group is now organising a second workshop.
"More than 30 diverse people attended the oversubscribed workshop. And we are planning another one to accommodate those on the waiting list," said Mr. Johnson.
l To find out more email: info@twowordsandacomma.com.
l For more information on the campaign, go to: www.twowordsandacomma.com
