I loved your picture of the drag queens (The Argus, August 7) in their campaign to stamp out homophobia.

Being a "bargain hunter" myself, I have encountered many gay men who own antique shops and stalls.

They certainly like good things in life and often have great taste in furnishings and style.

My friends and I had one special gay male friend who owned a nearby antique shop.

It was like a drop-in for ladies of a certain age as there was always a cup of tea and a sympathetic ear for all our problems - the ear that straight men can't always give you.

When our friend had problems of his own, we helped him out. Sadly he and his partner split up and he moved back home to the North.

We miss him terribly.

-Joy Linford, Hove