Lawyers and human rights campaigners have praised the Bermuda Bar Association’s decision to ban discrimination by attorneys on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The Association announced last week that it had updated its professional code of conduct, banning members from discriminating against clients and colleagues under any of the terms of the Human Rights Act.

But it also went one step further than the Human Rights Act and extended its code of conduct to cover discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Bar Association President Kiernan Bell said the change was not prompted by any complaints, but in support of lobbying efforts by the Human Rights Commission (HRC).

“The Bar Association supported the lobbying efforts of the HRC to have the legislation amended to include protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“While we feel confident that the Bermuda legislation will be remedied in the future, we felt that we should not wait, and should do our part to make it plain that the legal profession does not tolerate discrimination on any basis, including an individual’s sexual orientation.”

Many in the legal profession and various activist groups rallied behind the move, including Lucy Attride-Stirling, executive director of Amnesty International Bermuda.

Mrs Attride-Stirling said: “We do welcome the Bermuda Bar Association initiative. It is very important that they, and other associations, take a stand against discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

“We join in their efforts, as we firmly believe that it will benefit, not only the legal profession, but their clients as well, in being treated with the same dignity as any other Bermudian resident, and certainly hope that this initiative will create an atmosphere of acceptance in society in general.”

Lawyer Shade Subair said: “Speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Commission and as an individual member of the Bermuda Bar Association, the approach taken to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is very much embraced.

“All persons ought to be entitled to equal protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms, whatever his or her race, place of origin, colour, marital status, disability (whether it be mental or physical), birth status, parental status, religious or political opinions, or criminal history (subject to valid reasons which would justify the difference in treatment).”

The commission chairman added: “There is no humane justification for excluding persons from enjoying equal treatment in respect of these basic rights and freedoms on account of their sexual orientation.

“While we may not all agree on one another’s personal choices or lifestyle decisions, surely we can accept that our differences do not entitle us to treat others without dignity and respect because of these innate diversities.”

Ayo Johnson, a former member of campaign group Two Words and a Comma, said: “I am surprised it has taken the Bar Association this long to do the right thing. They are joining other organisations in Bermuda which frown on sexual orientation discrimination. But better late than never.”

He questioned “how” and “when” the HRC engaged in active and sustained lobbying efforts to amend the legislation, as alluded to by Ms Bell.

“To my knowledge, a lot of the lobbying has been done by ordinary citizens with the HRC playing, at best, and intermittently, the role of a reluctant ally,” said Mr Johnson.