Potential volunteers of the Government's youth counselling programme Mirrors are asked to disclose their race, religion and sexual orientation before they are trained.

Former TV journalist Ceola Wilson said the personal nature of the questions was absolutely unacceptable, particularly as she had been vetted by Police and invited to the training.

Moreover, she was outraged when her vague answers resulted in her ejection from the programme, which relies heavily on adult counsellors to guide Bermudian teens. Instead of providing Government with personal information she classified her race as "human being" and her religion as "spiritual".

She refused to declare her sexual orientation.

According to Ms Wilson this resulted in a supervisor telling her to fill out the forms like everyone else and when she refused she was told she was not "fit" to be a Mirrors volunteer.

A shocked Ms Wilson fired off an angry e-mail to Premier Ewart Brown and enrolment manager Vernelda Perinchief-Tatem. She shared their replies with The Royal Gazette.

Dr. Brown, who initially brought the programme to the Island to deal with "at risk" youth, wrote: "Relax Ceola! Someone made a mistake... ever heard of that? Damn, just take an adult approach, ask for Kimberly Jackson, ask her to fix it and MOVE forward!

"Tear up the form, file a complaint wherever it should be filed, etc but don't forget why you were invited in the first place.

"If you will not get past this, I will understand but hope that you will contribute to progress."

Mrs. Perinchief Tatem wrote: "Thank you for honouring your commitment to be present at the training this morning. It is my hope that any misunderstanding regarding Mirrors' processes can be cleared up."

Yesterday, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Culture Wayne Carey agreed that the form may request information that some deem inappropriate. But, he said, people have the right to decline to respond and there is an option on the form for that.

"It should be noted that the form has sections that can be answered by indicating either 'I prefer not to say' or 'other'," he said hundreds of people have completed the form to date without complaints or concerns expressed. Nevertheless, the Minister regrets any concern that the form may have caused to members of the public, and will take immediate action to rectify the matter."

Last night Ms Wilson said she was particularly appalled that volunteering members of the public were required to declare their sexuality while politicians were not.

"I have yet to see the gays/lesbians/bisexuals and others in Government, Civil Service and [Bermuda] Public Service Commission tell me [if they have had to] fill out a form yet on what's in their closet.

"The principle is they recruited me to be a foot soldier for Mirrors. I didn't ask them. My aunt challenged them, they stepped up and then their rookies kicked me out after I was cleared and vetted by Police.

"The principle, as well, being I answered the questions according to my spirit which is not negotiable. I was told to answer like everyone else. Here's the thing my name is not everyone [else], it's Ceola!"