Ron Jameson (Letters, September 7) would like the Gay Pride march to be more akin to Mardi Gras.

Perhaps the following may enlighten him and comes from my experience of living most of the time in Europe.

Carnival can be roughly translated as "the meat goes" and is the week which leads up to the Lenten fast. Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday and is the day and night set aside for eating, drinking and much debauchery before the lean weeks ahead.

A great parade comprised of decorated floats, on which ride spectacularly dressed participants, files through town.

Many of these displays are of an explicit sexual nature - one comprising models of erect penises eagerly thrust at the crowd springs to mind. Outrageously-dressed drag queens are much in evidence, blowing kisses and flirting as they pass along.

The crowd watching is made up of a complete cross-section of society, including family groups. These stay until the early hours in order not to miss the proceedings. They clap and applaud and return the lewd banter as the evening wears on. Much alcohol is consumed.

Nor are we spared bloodshed for on the last night the carnival king is ritually murdered. Those drag queens are now to be seen wailing and in mourning.

Does a bare breast and an exposed bottom in what is after all a march celebrating the release of a much-suppressed sexuality now seem so bad?

-Gerard Downing, Shoreham