Old attitudes to homosexuality rear ugly head

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

HOW sad that N Wilkinson still speaks of “unnatural sex between the same gender” in this day and age (The Yorkshire Post, September 26). The argument that homosexuality is an affliction that can be “cured” has long been totally discredited

Imagine what it must be like for a teenager struggling in vain to be heterosexual and fearful of what their parents will find out sooner or later.

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I read Peter Tatchell’s remarks on sexual literacy (The Yorkshire Post, September 18). At no time does he promote homosexuality or encourage promiscuity: his stated aim is to “reduce the incidence of unwanted teenage pregnancies, abortions and HIV” through education.

Promiscuity, not sexuality, is the prime factor in the spread of Aids. If Aids victims are disproportionately young gay men it is because the greatest disincentive to promiscuity – fear of pregnancy – is absent.

Back in the 1980s there was some terrifying publicity put out about the horrors of Aids which, I believe, was salutary.

Sadly, reports that the disease could be managed and the passage of time may have encouraged complacency resulting in the disturbing increase in diagnoses among young gay men. All the more reason for education.