For years it remained a political hot potato that many Parliamentarians chose to avoid for fear of losing valuable votes.But yesterday the once-controversial question of outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation overcame its final legislative hurdle almost unnoticed after the Human Rights Amendment Act 2013 was passed in the Senate.In a lightening quick morning session that lasted less than an hour, Government Senator Alexis Swan presented the bill for the third time and, with colleagues in the Upper House remaining silent, Senate President Carol Ann Bassett confirmed that the bill had passed without objection.The thorny issue was first raised in Parliament by then-PLP MP Renee Webb back in 2006. But her single-handed effort to change the law failed spectacularly after House of Assembly colleagues — with the exception of backbencher Nelson Bascome — declined to take part in the debate.The subject then appeared to remain off-limits until a year ago, when Families Minister Glenn Blakeney introduced a ‘take note’ motion debate on a proposed Equality Act which would outlaw discrimination against non-heterosexuals and elderly people.But the One Bermuda Alliance Government pledged to “strengthen Bermuda’s commitment to human rights for all” shortly after its election victory last December, and in February, Attorney General Mark Pettingill told this newspaper that an amendment to the law was at the top of the new administration’s agenda.A bill expanding the grounds on which it is illegal to discriminate was tabled in the House in May — and in marked contrast to yesterday’s Senate ‘debate’, the issue was hotly contested. The Opposition Progressive Labour Party was accused of ambivalence after party leader Marc Bean failed to back the bill publicly. Mr Bean had called on his MPs to canvass their constituents before voting with their consciences.And Shadow Tourism Minister Wayne Furbert came in for further criticism after he expressed concern that the amendment could clear the way for the legalisation of same-sex marriage.There bill hit a further snag after Government sought to amend a clause in its own legislation last month — but was defeated by superior numbers on the Opposition benches.The amendment will officially become law once it is signed by Governor George Fergusson.