No half-measuresJanuary 17, 2011Dear Sir,The Board of Amnesty International Bermuda would like to voice its concerns about the comments made by Ms Shade Subair, the outgoing Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, which appeared in the Saturday, January 14, 2012 edition of The Royal Gazette. Specifically, Ms Subair’s comments regarding the apparent lack of progress and will on the part of the Government to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.Additionally, we are equally concerned about the reported response of Glenn Blakeney, Minister of Youth, Families and Sports.Over the past few years, Amnesty International Bermuda and other human rights organisations and concerned members of the public have tirelessly combined their efforts to highlight the injustice and the deficiencies of The Human Rights Act 1981. In particular, that the Act does not provide equal rights for every member of the Bermudian community.We placed a great deal of faith in this PLP Government, whose principles, we thought, were rooted in the ideals of fairness and justice for all, to do the right thing and make discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation unlawful. However, according to Ms Subair, promises were made by the Minister which sadly were broken.But what we consider even more alarming is the reported comment of the Minister that suggested that he was considering introducing anti-discrimination regulations which would allow for exemptions. According to the Minister, and in order “to suit the context of Bermuda”, religious organisations or landlords could be exempted from these regulations.Amnesty International Bermuda does not consider such an option acceptable or in keeping with the spirit and intent of a Human Rights Act. Firstly, human rights, as defended by Amnesty International and other Human Rights organisations around the world, do not allow for half-measures in ensuring basic human rights: they are universal and non-negotiable.Secondly, such exemptions would provide an easy and convenient loophole to the Act and would contribute to the perpetuation of discrimination based on sexual orientation.Amnesty International Bermuda strongly urges the Government to “do the right thing” and bring about amendments to the Act which will unequivocally outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. We will of course continue to address this issue with the Government, in partnership with local and international organisations, and we invite interested members of the public to contact us at chair[AT]amnestybermuda.org or visit our LGBT group page at http://www.amnestybermuda.org/Human_Rights/LGBT.html.FRANCOISE WOLFFEChairpersonAmnesty International Bermuda