week.

They want MPs to throw out a proposal by the Hon. John Stubbs to scrap the laws.

After the march, planned for Friday, they will hand in a petition calling for the laws to stay.

The demonstration is being organised by local pastors and a religious group for "former homosexuals''.

The group, Valiant Ex-Gay Ministry, got official permission for the event yesterday.

The First Church of God, which had also been planning a march, decided to link up with Valiant and stage a joint event.

"It's a protest march to let the people of Bermuda know where we stand,'' said Valiant spokesman Mr. Duane Santucci, who says he is a former homosexual.

"We're not going to back down. We want to send a message, loud and clear, that this thing is morally wrong and Biblically wrong.

"It's about time we sent a message to the MPs, letting them know that we as Bermudian citizens want our voice to be heard.'' Mr. Santucci said organisers would distribute posters and fliers through the whole Island.

The Rev. Vernon Lambe, general overseer of the First Church of God, is organising a petition, now being circulated.

He said churches from "a dozen other denominations'' were backing the march.

These included the AME, the New Testament Churches of God, the Salvation Army and the United Holy Churches.

"There are a number of Anglicans that will be participating,'' he said. "I am one of the pastors in the community that has felt an obligation under God to respond to the preventing of Dr. Stubbs' bill,'' he said.

"We, as a Christian, Bible-believing group, do not feel this is acceptable.

"This event is going to be conducted in an orderly and concerted fashion, to register where the Christian community stands on the issue.

"I'm not going to be part of anything that is rowdy.'' Mr. Santucci's brother, the Rev. Leonard Santucci of St. Luke AME. St.

David's, said he was "very supportive'' of the march.

It would start at 12.30 p.m. at Victoria Park and head to the Sessions House, he said.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Human Rights Alliance, a gay group which supports Dr. Stubbs, said it was not concerned by the march. "We're above them,'' he said. "We're not going to make a scene or have a counter-demonstration. We'll handle it in our own little way.'' Dr. Stubbs' proposal is very unlikely to be debated by MPs until March 11 at the earliest.

Mr. Duane Santucci threatened to reveal the identities of BHRA members, who have been anonymous so far.

He said he had been given a list of names, and would take legal advice on whether he could announce them.

"They're dealing with someone that lived as they did, and now I'm on the other side of the fence.

"I used to be a part of the same group of people. I used to be homosexual.''