Tourism Minister Mr. David Allen said yesterday.

But Mr. Allen said he will not be the MP who makes the motion in the House of Assembly.

There are too many greater priorities, like the economy, sagging tourism, and immigration, Mr. Allen said.

And he accused the The Royal Gazette of "generating a furore overseas'' about the gay sex law with telephone calls to the United Kingdom and America.

The PLP member was mildly critical of Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge, the tone of whose comments set off a controversy when he said Government would not be pressed into changing the law which makes consensual sex between adult males illegal.

"Mr. Woolridge does have a habit of putting things in a rather strident way,'' Mr. Allen said. "I would have hoped that he'd taken a lower profile on that particular issue, because it does cause potential problems for Bermuda.'' The law "is something that we have to be conscious of from the standpoint of tourism'', he said.

The International Gay Travel Association has said its member agents discourage clients from visiting countries with laws like Bermuda's. And American human rights activist Mr. William Courson has threatened the Island with "a public shaming'' before the United Nations unless the law is changed.

Mr. Allen said: "I don't think the state has any role in the bedrooms of the community,'' and "I think it's time that probably Bermuda did update its law''.

But those who feel the law should remain are entitled to that opinion, and the gay sex law should not take attention away from greater concerns like the economy, he said.

By calling various gay and human rights organisations in England and the US for comment, The Royal Gazette "may be generating a problem for Bermuda that didn't exist up to this point in time,'' he said. "I think the Gazette should behave a little more responsibly in that regard.'' Community and Cultural Affairs Minister the Hon. Leonard Gibbons has challenged an Opposition MP or Government backbencher to introduce a motion to change the law.

But Mr. Allen said Mr. Gibbons is the minister responsible for introducing the motion.

His views are not supported by the PLP's Shadow Minister of Community Affairs, Mr. Reginald Burrows.

Mr. Burrows said he voted against the previous amendment to change the law and he has not changed his mind since then.

He said: "The PLP has not really taken a position on this yet. We have not discussed the gay rights issue thoroughly but we will do so shortly.

"I will be asking that it be a free vote when it comes to Parliament. It is a matter of conscience. It should not be a policy vote. I have my personal opinion and it has not changed much since we last voted on this.''