year battle against cancer.

Curtis T. Gray leapt into the public eye in the mid-1990's when, at the age of 22, he lead the charge for the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

He later wrote the Shades of Gray column for the Mid-Ocean News, pressing topics from children's rights to equal rights.

Last night Mid-Ocean Editor-in-Chief Tim Hodgson paid his respects to Mr.

Gray.

"The period that directly preceded passage of the Stubb's Amendment to Bermuda's Criminal Code was something straight out of a social science textbook,'' he said.

"It seems every society likes to have an out-group -- a pariah caste that it can scapegoat as somehow being both entirely beyond the pale and yet simultaneously posing a sinister threat to the established order.

"And at that time in Bermuda the role of outsider fell to male homosexuals.

"What was in fact a simple human rights issue was quickly seized upon by certain political and religious groupings and became a lightning rod for unbridled bigotry and animosity.'' Mr. Hodgson explained.

"By putting a human face to the concerns of Bermuda's largely closeted gay community, Curtis became not only a spokesman but a champion for their cause.

"In his intelligent, understated and completely non-confrontational way, he underscored the fact that gay men were not asking for special treatment -- rather, they just wanted to be accorded the same rights everyone else enjoyed under Bermuda's laws.

"It never ceases to amuse me that this young man who was regularly lampooned in both the media and pulpits as a limp-wristed pansy actually came as close as anyone I've ever known to embodying Ernest Hemingway's definition of true masculine courage -- grace under pressure.'' Mr. Hodgson said he first came to know Mr. Gray when the soon-to-be columnist made a television appearance with human rights lawyer Rod Stirling and a Baptist priest.

Mr. Hodgson said: "Curtis was so cool handling himself and calm.'' Then-Editor-in-Chief of The Royal Gazette , David White, said: "Curtis did what, at the time, was a dramatic television appearance in which he admitted he was gay.'' Gay-rights champion dies "He tried to put the "gay'' point-of-view about passing the Consensual Adults Over 18 Bill.

"I think he had a considerable affect on the public. You see it was an emotional issue -- pro and anti -- because both side had strong feelings.'' A friend of Mr. Gray, Buddy Fleming, said Curtis was a "great individual''.

"He was an amazing individual -- full of life and incredibly interesting.

When he walked into the room, he would just light the place up.

"He stood up for what he believed in.'' said Mr. Fleming.

In his first Shades of Gray column, Mr.Gray wrote: "Trying to impress each other and ignoring problems around us is not going to work for us. It never has.'' And in his final Shades of Gray article in December 1995, Mr. Gray stated that after the unification of all people, irrespective of politics, race, gender, creed, religion or sexual preference, Bermuda will be able to say: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, We are Free At Last.'' OBITUARY OBT