In response to Bill Williams, I would like to suggest it is pride in overcoming attitudes and ill-will such as his own.

Until relatively recently, gay and lesbian folk were seen as easy targets and actively discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Much of that is past, although there is still work to be done.

I am proud I and many others like me have survived and emerged from years of being told we are inferior to the rest of society.

As long as there are those who share Mr Williams's attitude, there will be those of us who will stand up and declare we will not accept insulting and inflammatory abuse.

What would he have us do? Run back into the dark ages and pretend we don't exist?

-Mark Laverick, Brighton