Government Senator Walton Brown has voiced his firm support of an amendment to Bermuda's Human Rights Act to protect people of all sexual orientations from discrimination.

Sen. Brown is calling on politicians from both parties to "do the right thing" when an amendment bill is tabled this fall, regardless of lobbying efforts from the Island's vocal religious community.

"As far as I am concerned this is the right thing to do for Bermuda specifically, and in general," he said. "I do not understand any position taken by any church that is against removing a discriminatory practice. I don't know how anyone can interpret the Bible or the Koran in that way."

Sen. Brown spoke to The Royal Gazette following his participation in Saturday's London Gay Pride parade, where he joined a contingent of Bermudians marching to increase visibility and call for equal rights.

The group of about 30 Bermudians and their supporters wore traditional Bermuda shorts and blazers and waved Bermuda flags, with some riding red scooters down London's streets.

Sen. Brown noted that all of the UK's political parties were represented in the parade, which saw more than 800,000 people line the capital city's streets.

He hopes that Bermuda's politicians will follow their lead, especially in the 50th anniversary year of the theatre boycott, a landmark move against discrimination. He said he will not accept MPs arguing that their constituents do not support a Human Rights Act amendment, calling that stance "a cop out".

The amendment would make it illegal to discriminate against anyone because of their sexual orientation for employment, housing or other services.

"It is not the role of the elected Members of Parliament to simply follow the will of their constituents," he said. "Your role is to persuade people. Otherwise what we have is a community that speaks to the principle of human rights but doesn't demonstrate it."

New Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield is now responsible for considering what changes, if any, should be made to the Human Rights Act before making recommendations to Cabinet ahead of the autumn parliamentary term.

Former Culture Minister Dale Butler relinquished responsibility for the bill upon his resignation, causing some local activists to worry whether the issue would fall by the wayside.

Sen. Brown believes there is a "substantial degree of support" within the PLP parliamentary group as well as the caucus for amending the Human Rights Act.

Sen. Brown added that because of an "inherently conservative and reactionary element" in Bermuda society, changes to the Island's laws may have to be incremental.

"One of the increments would be to include something in the Human Rights Act," he said. "Another step would be to have something enshrined in the Constitution."

Sen. Brown called on groups including equal rights activists, Two Words and a Comma and the Human Rights Commission, to take the lead and open up a greater public debate on the issue.

"I will support any steps we can take in Bermuda," he said. "You should not tolerate discrimination."

Two Words and a Comma's David Northcott, who flew to London to take part in the Pride parade, said that the group intends to be vocal ahead of this fall's amendment bill.

"We're looking to continue the dialogue with the churches that we started last summer," he said. "We will be doing some education work with the current MPs."

Mr. Northcott called London Pride "a very affirming event". "It put Bermuda in a good light," he said. "We were there, we were participating, we were visible."

He said he remains "cautiously optimistic" that the Island's MPs will pass the Human Rights Act amendment this fall, and hopes other politicians will follow Senator Brown's lead.

"Two Words and a Comma truly welcomes Senator Walton Brown's support of the amendment, and it's refreshing to see a politician speak out publicly in support," he said.