scrap laws against gay sex.

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, one of the groups campaigning against Bermuda's anti-sodomy law, is celebrating victories over similar laws in European countries.

But Bermuda is trying to hold out, said Ms Julie Dorf, head of the San Francisco-based organisation.

She said the European Court of Human Rights has just told Cyprus to change its law. The country's anti-sodomy legislation violates the human right to privacy, ruled the court, and must be scrapped.

In Ireland, the Cabinet has decided to introduce legislation to legalise sex between gay men following a 1988 European Court ruling.

Gay activists have argued that sooner or later Bermuda will have to follow European human rights agreements and get rid of its law.

"We're seeing around the world, and especially in Europe, the decriminalisation of gay sex,'' said Ms Dorf. "Bermuda, given its status with the UK, should fall in line with the rest of Europe.

"We're even seeing Romania and Russia, some pretty severe situations, turn around. There's no reason why Bermuda should be out there.

"If Bermuda on its own doesn't repeal its sodomy law we clearly see a pattern of the European Court being able to direct countries to do so. It's a pretty consistent pattern. It is encouraging that international courts are proving to be successful forums for challenging discriminatory laws against sexual minorities.

"But the battle doesn't end with a court ruling. Bringing about compliance has proven to be difficult in the case of Ireland, which is only recently moving towards repeal of their anti-gay law after nearly four years.''