Sexual orientation is not included in Bermuda's Human Rights Act, according to the new Human Rights Commission head.

Venous Memari cleared up the issue again last night when asked by a member of the public if the two words were already covered in the current legislation. And she added that she had already asked for the HRC have more autonomy from the Government.

Last year when backbencher Renee Webb brought a private members bill to the House of Assembly to include "sexual orientation" to the list of things people cannot discriminate against several members of parliament said there was no need for the bill because the legislation already protected homosexuals.

The MPs who all refused to even debate the motion added that there did not appear to be any need because they were not aware of discrimination.

But last night members of the public spoke about the necessity for the reform and talked about discrimination they have faced.

One man told the assembled guests at the Human Rights Reform public meeting that he had been denied lunch at a Hamilton establishment because the waitress did not like gay people.

And others expressed loosing out on employment because of their sexuality.

While the meeting was not called to discuss the addition of sexual orientation to the current legislation it was the main theme of the night.

Particularly because a groups of concerned citizens mounted a campaign, Two Words and A Common, a month ago to lobby Bermudians and the Government to include the sector of the population in the Act. Many of the groups members attended last night and expressed their views with people who questioned why it was needed.

Currently a review is being done on the whole HRC and the way in which complaints are processed. And Ms Memari said she had already recommended that the group be given more autonomy to deal with the issues.