A gay rights group on the Isle of Man says it is dismayed at the education minister's opposition to removing section 38 of the Sexual Offences Act. The clause banning promotion of homosexuality in schools is similar to the UK's section 28 repealed in 2003.
A House of Keys debate on removing it was stalled last week after it was opposed by Education Minister David Anderson and other MHKs.
The Ellan Vannin Gay Group said the law should be removed.
The group said in a statement they had reacted with "alarm and dismay" to the deferment.
It added: "Once again the Isle of Man is perceived on the wider world stage as failing to embrace the norms of the 21st Century by seeking to indulge in the sordid and tawdry debate over removal of legislation which seeks at the least to disadvantage, if not openly encourage discrimination against, a section of the Manx population."
The House of Keys is expected to make a decision next week.
The debate is part of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill, which aims to bring the island's laws into compliance with the European Convention of Human Rights.
Hazal Hannan, Peel MHK and a former education minister, is sponsoring the removal of section 38 from the act.
'All around us'
She said: "In the home we have people who are openly gay presenting programmes on the television.
"I'm not suggesting promoting it, all I'm suggesting is it is all around us."
But Mr Anderson has said he is opposed to removing the clause.
He said: "What section 38 does is give very good guidelines in my opinion to the way sexual relationship boundaries are taught in schools."
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What section 38 does it does give very good guidelines in my opinion to the way sexual relationship boundaries are taught in schools
