The Human Rights Commission (HRC) would support an amendment to the Human Rights Act that would outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

This was revealed yesterday by the chairperson of the HRC?s Education Sub-Committee, Kamal Worrell.

Mr. Worrell was speaking at a press conference on the recently concluded human rights public forums.

He said there had been a healthy debate on a number of topics during the forums including the often-controversial issue of whether the rights of homosexuals should be protected under the Human Rights Act.

He said the HRC believes discrimination on the basis of sexual discrimination should be banned.

?The Human Rights Act is clear as far as which grounds are protected or which grounds discrimination is prohibited on and it is clear, if one looks at it, that sexual orientation is not one of those listed grounds.

?I can say that sexual orientation is not covered under the Human Rights Act and I believe all Bermudians should be covered no matter what. I don?t think it is acceptable that any segment of our community not be afforded protection from unlawful discrimination.?

He said the HRC would throw its support behind Government backbencher Renee Webb?s efforts to amend the law so that the rights of homosexuals are protected.

?When we support any protection for any segment of the population it is not to say that one then condones the act that is being protected or the person being protected under the act, but what we are saying is that we agree that all people no matter what, should be protected,? he said.

The public forums, which were held over a two-month period, also addressed workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.

Speaking specifically on workplace discrimination Mr. Worrell said there was much work to be done.

He added: ?Arising from this session was the stark and unavoidable reality that there remains much to be desired in terms of fairness in the workplace between Bermudians and non-Bermudians, between males and females and between those of African descent versus those of European descent. ?We recognise that neither of these problems presents themselves as easily fixable, but we are also convinced that none are in any way justifiable.

Mr. Worrell said as a result of the meetings the public now had a better understanding of how the commission works and the human rights legislation.