Campaigners welcomed news of a debate in Parliament focusing on equal rights for gay people (see main story). However, they complained that talk of introducing a UK-style Equality Act has come too late, and does not go far enough. Here is a roundup of what key figures had to say yesterday:l Renee Webb is a former Government MP who saw her own bill to stop discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation voted down in 2006:“While I would have liked to have seen a Bill tabled for the Equality Act or one tabled to amend the Human Rights Act, the ‘take note motion’ introducing an Equality Act is a start in the right direction. The public needs to know how their representatives feel on issues of equality, particularly for those with a different sexual orientation other then heterosexual. I trust that members show courage, and fortitude in speaking up for ending any, and all forms of discrimination in Bermuda.”l Venous Memari is managing director of the Centre for Justice and a former chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission:“It is most disappointing that, after years and years of campaigning by various individuals and groups including the Human Rights Commission, and extensive Government consultation with respect to amending the Human Rights Act to include age and sexual orientation as grounds of discrimination, Government is still dragging its feet.“The ‘take note motion’ on the prospect of an Equality Bill is a red herring for a number of reasons. The UK Equality Act 2010 was passed in the UK to consolidate and simplify all the different pieces of anti-discrimination law into one. That is not necessary in Bermuda. The Human Rights Act seeks to eliminate discrimination in employment, housing and provision of services; the Act simply needs to be amended to add age and sexual orientation to the grounds of discrimination.”l Claire Smith is a human rights campaigner who has been vocal in calls for a bill outlawing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation:“I am speaking as a gay woman who has been waiting and waiting and waiting for this Government to pass legislation to protect all its citizens from discrimination. This continued lack of commitment to take the necessary steps and to do the right thing has been the norm for this Government. It seems as though this Equality Act is just the next hurdle of smokes and mirrors further obstructing equality in our society.“This Government has amended the Human Rights Act several times over the last 12 years and refused to add the one sentence necessary to protect homosexuals. This was after exhaustive consultation and a firm recommendation by the Human Rights committee to include sexual orientation protection. I don’t understand why there is any need for more consultation.”l Natasha McDonald is a member of the ‘Two Words and a Comma’ campaign to change the law on discrimination. She is speaking here in her personal capacity:“It’s on one hand encouraging to see that a potential Equality Act including protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is currently being discussed within the House of Assembly. However after several years of campaigning without seeing any actual changes in legislation from Government, I am understandably wary of the efficacy of merely gauging the House.“According to research polls, the majority of the Bermuda public is actually opposed to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Those in Government and in the general public should be reminded that this is not an amendment which would dictate any person’s personal and/or religious beliefs.”Ms McDonald pointed out that the term ‘sexual orientation’ covers the rights of heterosexuals too, adding: “I sincerely hope that in this gauging process, the majority of the House will recognise that this is not a matter of personal beliefs but one of basic human rights and that denial of such rights would be akin to discrimination on the grounds of religious beliefs, race or physical disability.”l Selina Bean is another member of ‘Two Words and a Comma,’ also speaking here in her personal capacity: “We’ve heard all of this before, and nothing ever happens. Until it comes forward, I don’t believe it. There is discrimination out there towards homosexuals and it’s time that Bermuda makes a change. We need to keep up with the rest of the world. This legislation would not just benefit Bermudians it would benefit our tourists; it would benefit everybody.”