The Human Rights Commission, headed by Anglican the Rev. Canon James Francis, is organising a march against "racism and discrimination'' on March 21.

But ministers in other churches, who supported two marches against gay rights, are boycotting the event.

Canon Francis said the United Nations had asked countries to commemorate March 21, the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa, with marches against racism.

The march was also designed to encourage recent Government moves in tackling the problem, he said.

He said the human rights march was "not really'' linked to the gay sex issue.

"Although I think it can be seen that way,'' he added. "In the minds of the commissioners it's not related.

"But if indeed discrimination in any form exists, then our job is to call attention to it. However, it's not specifically aimed at the Stubbs bill.

"There seems to be some reluctance on the part of a few religious leaders, in that because I didn't march with them, they don't feel they can support this move.'' Plans for the march were revealed yesterday, the same day the Hon. John Stubbs introduced a new version of his proposal to make gay sex legal. The Government MP wants consenting homosexual intercourse to be legal between men of 16 and older.

His proposed law is based on the right to privacy in the European Convention on Human Rights. Bermuda had agreed to be covered by the convention, Dr.

Stubbs said.

He added homosexuals in Cyprus and Northern Ireland had won human rights cases on the basis of the right to privacy.

Dr. Stubbs said he had asked church leaders against his bill to join him in a public debate on the issue. The Rev. Vernon Lambe, the Rev. Goodwin Smith and the Rev. Leonard Santucci "were extreme in their lack of enthusiasm,'' he said.

Mr. Lambe said: "It's not my duty to debate with Dr. Stubbs. The forum for debate on this or any other bill is the House of Assembly.'' MPs were expected to be able to reach a decision based on moral sensitivity and integrity, he said.

The pro-gay Bermuda Human Rights Alliance supports 16 as the age of consent for homosexuals, because that is the age for heterosexuals.

But MPs, including Mr. Trevor Moniz, are planning to push for 18, the age of consent for gay men in Britain.

Mr. Moniz said he did not regard 16-year-olds as adult. And homosexuality should not be equated with heterosexuality, he said.

It was Government's duty to encourage family life and relationships between men and women.