controversial 1994 reading of the `Stubbs' Bill' `THIS is not a bill to promote the homosexual action, nor was it a bill to enhance the position of homosexuals. The human rights' issue is what we are debating today' ---- John Stubbs `I recognise this subject is difficult and some may find it distasteful, unhealthy, unclean and abominable. I don't see how locking up people will improve anything... Do we as a community wish to lock up people because of their sexual activity in the bedroom?' ---- Gerald Simons `IN our country today, homosexuals are not denied any human rights' ---- Nelson Bascome `WHEN I think of that story (of Sodom and Gomorrah) it makes me think of the dislike and utter contempt in which God holds homosexuality' ---- Terry Lister `RELIGION has condoned everything you can think of, including burning at the stake, massacres and slavery' ---- Lois Browne Evans `I stand here today with my head lowered in shame that this House would consider lowering the very moral fibre of the community' ---- Wayne Furbert `THESE people are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of Bermudian mothers -- these individuals are Bermudians. They should not be treated as criminals because of different sexual preferences provided they are consenting adults in the privacy of their own home' ---- Gary Pitman `HOMOSEXUALS have brought a level of understanding to certain areas such as art, science and music which has enlightened our lives in many ways. I think society can be a lot more gentle concerning the treatment of our members' ---- Larry Scott `THIS debate is a no-win situation for us all. My aspiration is fairness and justice for all Bermudians' ---- Norma Astwood *** The law as it stands Criminal Code Act 1907, Amended 1994: Offences Against Morality Section 177: `Unnatural offences and attempts to commit unnatural offences' (1) Subject to sub-section (3) hereof, any person who has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature is said to commit the offence of buggery and is guilty of a felony, and is liable to imprisonment for ten years.

(2) Any person who attempts to commit the offence of buggery is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable to imprisonment for five years.

(3) The acts described in sub-section (1) shall not constitute an offence if committed in private by two consenting persons both above the age of 18 years.

Section 179: `Commission etc. of acts of gross indecency between male persons' (1) Subject to sub-section (2) any male persons who, whether in public or private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person; or who procures another male person to commit any act of gross indecency with him, or attempts to procure the commission of any such act by any male person with himself or with another male person, whether in public or private, is guilty of a misdemeanour, and is liable on conviction by a court of summary jurisdiction to imprisonment for twelve months and on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for two years.

(2) The acts described in sub-section (1) shall not constitute an offence if committed in private by consenting persons above the age of 18 years.