Gay men now have a safe haven to vent their feelings in a society that, at most times, shuns them.

The Gay Men's Support Group was founded just before Christmas by "Alex" (not his real name) after years of enduring the pressures of being "in the closet".

He was forced to adjust to hiding his sexuality from the community.

"I lived abroad for a while and was openly gay, but upon returning to Bermuda, I found myself becoming more isolated," he said. Realising that there were many men like himself on the Island, he said, he decided to form a support group.

By word of mouth, news of the organisation spread, and it now has eight members, some of whom have revealed their sexual orientation only to group members.

"Some of them are afraid to come out because of expected repercussions," he said. "Losing their jobs is a great fear."

Alex said the group gives the men - who range in age from their 30's to 60's - an open forum to discuss issues ranging from having safe sex to "outing themselves" to family and friends.

"Graham", who joined the group in January said the group is helping him to build the nerve to reveal his sexual preferences to his daughter.

"My daughter suspects that I am gay. She hints at it sometimes, but it's a `don't ask, don't tell' situation," he said. "But the group is helping me to deal with this, so one day I hope to tell her."

The technology buff who is in his early 60's, said that he led a straight lifestyle for years and even married, but began to question his sexual preferences: "After my wife was gone, I did not want any relationships with women and began to question why.

"One day I got on the Internet and started to look at a gamut of gay porn sites."

Graham said he struck new friendships in the process and soon he realised that he was definitely attracted to men. To ensure he was not being whimsical, he visited a psychologist twice and was advised to explore his feelings. According to him, he travelled to the US to meet a friend and has never looked back. "The life I lead is wonderful. I am not ashamed of who I am," he said.

However, he realistically compared the difference of being a homosexual abroad, to when he is at home: "The largeness of the States makes you feel comfortable. I have walked hand-in-hand with a man out there, but would never dream of it here.

"Being abroad brings anonymity."

And "Will", a thirty-something-year-old professional agreed. Out of the closet for over ten years, Will still has not revealed this to everyone in his life; one of the reasons why he joined the group from its inception.

"I wanted to know how other men were getting along with the same issues that I had," he said. "The group gives me a wider perspective of what's going on in society."

Will felt that prejudices in the workplace is one reason why homosexual males are wary to reveal themselves: "In the hiring process, I believe it plays a major role in a gay man's pay scale."

Discussing issues like these are why Alex said he created the group.

"We need an open arena to talk," he said. "We do our best to maintain and protect the emotional safety of our members and always protect their confidentiality."

But ask Alex what is his ultimate aim for the gays in the community and he responds without missing a beat: "Freedom from labels and the recognition that gay people are dealing with many of the same issues that heterosexuals are."