A Senator last night called on the Government to rethink the legalisation of gay sex -- with a view to making it a crime again.

And she said she wanted that legislation withdrawn -- despite the fact that that would breach the United Nations' Convention on Human Rights which bans discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

Sen. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin (UBP) said she did not agree with the passage of Dr. John Stubbs' Private Members Bill in 1994 which scrapped laws making homosexual acts a criminal act.

The controversial amendment repealed sections of the statute books which stated men involved in gay sex should be sent to prison -- bringing Bermuda in line with the vast majority of the developed Western world.

And she said her call was sparked by recent comments in an interview with newly appointed Immigration Board member Raymond Russell that he regretted PLP members had assisted in making homosexuality legal.

"I was pleased with his comments,'' she said last night. "And I think it is absolutely important people in Bermuda find out what the Government's position on it is.

"We have to preserve the moral fibre of the community and to not do anything that encourages moral decadence,'' she said.

"When I was canvassing Pembroke East Central leading up to the Election I discovered that a lot of people had difficulty with that particular bill.

"And a lot of people felt they could not vote for someone who had supported it.

"I want the present Government to state their position of whether they're planning to take up the issue again or let sleeping dogs lie.

"We live in a very strong Christian community and we have to be sensitive of what our Christian friends believe.'' She pointed out that she was not a Member of Parliament when the Bill was voted through, but said if she had of been she would never have supported it.

When she raised the issue in the Upper House, Sen. Calvin Smith (PLP) asked if her comments were a "personal attack'' on someone.

But he did not clarify his statement and did not return telephone calls from The Royal Gazette last night.

Sen. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin