Harding raises controversial issue

PRESIDENT of the Senate Dr Oswald Harding says the country can ill-afford to dismiss arguments from the gay lobby about their rights to embrace and practise sexual behaviours of their choice.

Describing the issue as "a very sensitive matter", Harding said the attitudes towards homosexuals is "an arising problem."

"Perhaps I am just a bookish theoretician, but as someone who deals with the philosophy of law, it is something that needs to be considered, and I don't think we can just throw it out of the window," Harding said.

He noted that the question of marriage had been settled as a union between an adult male and a female.

Harding said the issue is not going to go away and urged the Senate not to push the issue under the mat.

"I am not saying that the time is right," he, however, said.

All 18 members present for the Senate yesterday voted for the Charter of Rights to replace Chapter Three in the Constitution.