We received this newspaper excerpt from Vicky (3genders@bahamas.net.bs) in the Bahamas. It was sent on April 22.

Tourism Minster C.A. Smith has warned the "Save the Bahamas" anti-gay campaigners that the Government will not tolerate lawlessness and intimidation of tourists visiting the country.

"We want to make it abundantly clear that while this administration will continue to support the rights of individuals for peaceful protests, incidents of lawlessness and intimidation will not be tolerated". A tough talking Minister Smith said.

Minister Smith said the Government is "extremely concerned" about the Easter Monday early morning protest by an anti-gay group led by Save the Bahamas chairman pastor Mario Moxey, which broke through a police cordon protecting some 800 gay passengers on the Premier cruise ship, the Seabreeze, which was docked at Prince George Warf for eight hours.

"We fully understand that the protesters are opposed to the position taken by the Government on this issue and the Government reiterates its position in not discriminating against any group of visitors on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation," Minister Smith said.

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