Church leaders are in talks with human rights group Two Words And A Comma in an attempt to form a greater understanding about issues surrounding homosexuality.

Two Words member David Northcott last night said discussions with four pastors had been positive, and that he hoped they could ultimately pave the way for the Human Rights Act to be amended to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Mr. Northcott — who said many young gay men flee Bermuda in their late teens because of abuse — told an Amnesty International open meeting that Two Words would also be lobbying Cabinet over the issue.

His group, formed last year, wants to overturn attitudes highlighted in 2006, when MPs failed to debate a private members bill brought to the House of Assembly by Progressive Labour Party MP Renee Webb, which would have seen "sexual orientation" added to the Human Rights Act.

Politicians' silence came after many churches spoke out against Ms Webb's bill and condemned homosexuality.

"We are lobbying MPs, the Senate and the Cabinet. We need their support," said Mr. Northcott.

"We are deliberately choosing the churches that we think are going to be most vociferous in not wanting to change the law."

Asked by an audience member how talks had gone, he replied: "It was surprisingly good. We carry, all of us, very much an 'us and them' attitude to these things.

"They gave their points of view. I told them I don't have a problem if you believe a gay lifestyle is amoral. I don't have a problem with that. You have a right to say that. You have a right to practise your religion.

"But we are saying: don't discriminate.

"At the end of the meeting, all of us came out of there with a greater understanding of where each other stood. This process of education is vital."

Mr. Northcott said some people are put off Two Words when the group is labelled pro "gay rights". He explained: "What alienates the churches is if it's seen as special privileges for gays. It's not. It's just about protecting everyone."

One teacher in the audience spoke out: "It's a problem in schools with young children, middle school age. I had one of my nicest little girls — a real sweetheart — she turned round and said to someone: 'I'm so sorry for you. I'm so sorry you are going to burn in hell forever.'

"She was genuinely disturbed. This is the message that's being hammered into her head through church. They (the children) are horrible to any child they perceive to be homosexual. The number of times I stop during the day to say: 'We are not using those words here.'"

Two Words was set up last April after churches spoke out against homosexuality once more and forced the cancellation of US celebrity Rosie O'Donnell's gay family cruise to the Island.

"We felt there was such a climate of homophobia and such a climate of misinformation something had to be done," said Mr. Northcott.