gay-bashers, a human rights group warned last week.

Attacks on gay men and lesbians are getting more vicious and increasingly frequent, said the Bermuda Human Rights Alliance, which campaigns for equal rights for homosexuals.

"It's getting uglier and a time is going to come when gay people are going to fight back,'' said one of the campaigners, a 32-year-old gay man who did not want to be named.

The group feels recent publicity about Bermuda's anti gay-sex laws has heightened hatred of gays instead of promoting understanding.

And now the Alliance is calling for a change in hate crime laws.

Most homosexuals are afraid to report violence because they fear lack of compassion from Police and the courts, and persecution by family and employers, say activists.

"If we had equal protection we wouldn't be as afraid to report these crimes,'' said another BHRA spokesperson, a black lesbian who also asked not to be identified.

She recounted her own recent experience of a gay-basher when a routine visit to the supermarket turned into a nightmare.

She said a man began calling her a "dyke'' and when she answered back, he became violent, pushing and shoving her into the shelves.

Still suffering pain and discomfort from the incident, the 25-year-old vowed to see the case through to the end.

"I'm sick of it,'' she said, "We are humans too, not second-class citizens.'' The gay man said he felt the situation would get worse before it got better.

He said he was the victim of verbal and physical attacks, as well as constant harassment because of his sexual orientation.

He also told of an incident when he saw two lesbians being assaulted by a group of men in a club.

Most of the violence against homosexuals occurred at night, usually on the weekend and in or outside nightclubs, he said.

Both campaigners believe churches are teaching homophobia when they should be preaching unconditional love.

"The church is making it sound like it's okay to commit violence; at least that's how it's coming across,'' said the young lesbian.

The BHRA says it has learned of local homosexuals who have had their houses broken into and their car tires slashed. Others, it says, have even had rocks thrown at them.

"What's it going to take? Someone getting killed? What will the churches say then?'' said the spokeswoman.

Both the activists said they would encourage any victim of gay-bashing to involve the law even though it could mean more suffering.