AN international organisation has condemned Bermuda's lawmakers for rejecting a proposal which would have outlawed discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

The New York-based International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission charged MPs with "weaselling out" of last Friday's non-debate on a bill tabled by Government backbencher Ren?e Webb.

Ms Webb was seeking an amendment to the Human Rights Act, which currently does not protect people from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. But her proposal was rejected in a voice vote after just one MP, fellow backbencher Nelson Bascome, spoke on the issue. IGLHRC executive director Paula Ettelbrick yesterday told the : "What sort of society do we want to live in ? one that regards all discrimination as a nasty social evil or one that picks and chooses between the types of people it wants to protect?"

Ms Ettelbrick pointed out that such legislation was designed to protect everybody, not just gays and lesbians. And she said that by failing to back the bill, MPs were effectively endorsing discrimination.

"There are two main reasons why this law is important," she said.

"Firstly, it stands as a statement of public policy that to discriminate against any person is not acceptable.

"It also provides a remedy of some sort when someone is discriminated against. It provides them with legal recourse.

"There's a practical benefit, it's not done just to make the books look nice.

"There have been many cases in the US of mistaken identity, where it has been assumed that someone is gay when they're not, and they have then been treated unfairly.

"The fact that most people who are being discriminated against are gay or lesbian doesn't take away from the fact that the regulation is neutral and is there to protect people regardless of their sexual orientation.

"I think that, by voting against it, politicians are endorsing discrimination. I also agree with people who say that the fact that it wasn't debated was an affront to democracy.

" Just to weasel out of it is a statement on their own fears and insecurities. Unfortunately, politicians around the world are afraid of controversial issues."

But Ms Ettelbrick did suggest that, while Bermuda was lagging behind many countries, particularly in Europe, in its human rights legislation, the fact that the bill had been tabled at all was a sign that progress was being made.

"I think those advocates who wanted the bill to pass will have to do a lot more work to get it passed next time," she said.

"But the fact that it's even come up has to be viewed as a step forward ? in the US it's been conveniently buried. The fact that people are irate about it in Bermuda means that hopefully it will at least promote discussion on the issue. Any law is meaningless unless you change social attitudes and the way to change social attitudes is through discussion."

The IGLHRC is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation which seeks to secure the full enjoyment of the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse on the basis of sexual orientation or expression, gender identity or expression, and/or HIV status.