"I noticed you only came out after you won the contest.Says it all really does'nt it.

david lawrence, wadhurst, england"

Will was already out when he entered Pop Idol. It wasn't an issue for him but said if anyone had asked him directly he would have told them.After the show he was warned that he was going to be publicly outed by the Daily Mail and put the kybosh on their "exclusive" . As he said he didn't think he'd have to come out twice.

What "says it all" is you standing in judgement without knowing the facts.

Chris Thompson, Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Er, Harry I'm not too sure about the Muslims but Catholic teaching is definetly not that gays are "evil".

I speak as an atheist homosexual who had a Catholic upbringing btw.

James, Leamington Spa,

Sadly so long as there are people like those who posted here that gays are possessed; and the two biggest religions in the world claiming millions of followers, namely the Catholics and the Muslims, claim that being gay is evil and stir up their followers in their schools and places of worship to oppose basic gay rights such as the rights to adopt and form legally recoginsed partnerships then there is a major battle to be won.

Harry Small, London, UK

B.L.N. of London

What an excellent post, more people like you and there would never have been the need for Will Young to feel the need to write such an article, excellent that it was.

pauline ward, Alvaston, Derby

Interestingly some of the comments on here show absolutely that Will Young is right in his statement that "Gays haven't won the battle yet"!

Elaine, Swindon,

Some of the comments on here are rather proving Will's point!

sue, Norfolk,

In view of some of the comments on here (those that are evidently homophobic ) there is indeed much to be done in todays society, as Will Young so rightly indicates.

I thought his article was well informed both on a personal level and otherwise and was certainly thought provoking as can be seen on here, Thinking does not stand still and that gives me hope for the future re homophobia which still exists in present day society.

pauline ward, Alvaston, Derby

It isn't Normal for YOU Dave, But Being Gay is indeed normal if you are Gay. you say that Will coming out after he won the show 'says it all' , Will was out to those close to him already. winning the show was always about his singing and the success he enjoys to this day is because of his singing, the GBP for the most part see a talented singer rather than a Gay man who sings. It's Nearly 6 years since the 'contest' and its no longer relevant to Will or those of us who move with the times. Once the only Gay people you saw on TV were stereotypes with limp wrists and shinny suits, people to mock and laugh at, but now with the help of men like Will Young you can grow up seeing an alternative, you Don't have to be what your expected to be, you can just BE. The UK is changing slowly for the better in regards to Gay relationships too. i Believe People in the public eye who are successful and happen to be Gay help this process a great deal. slow it may be, but we will get there

B.L N., London.,

David Lawrence,Homosexuality is NORMAL for people of that inclination. Many people knew WILL YOUNG was gay and judging by his continuing success after winning Pop Idol,it mattered little .That says it all!!!

margaret Reeve, london, u.k.

Will Young is making the classic mistake of saying he is "a gay". Applying a label to yourself will always mean that others will pigeon-hole you. It's something we all do as a shirt-hand way of dealing with large numbers of people.

Doctors can be the worst for they label a patient with his disease, often forgetting the human being behind the label who may have few of the symptoms associated with his illness, or indeed may have a plethora of them.

Mr Young would be better to say that he is a "gay" man, although this, too, can create problems. But at least he's managed to include the word 'man' and so increase the range of options that any reader or interlocutor might have in his ready-use locker in his brain.

Mr Young should try to avoid labels, either for himself or indeed for others. Try not to let others pigeon-hole you, and make them accept you as a person with a very wide range of attributes and character traits.

Chris Palmer, Southampton, UK

Lesbianism was never illegal in this country. When the laws were brought in (or amended) Queen Victoria refused to accept that there were such people as Lesbians!

Anyway, Will, well done for an interesting and articulate piece of writing.

June, Newport, UK

"When the Pope officiates at the wedding of her son and his husband at the altar of St Peters in Rome, we might have gotten somewhere."

Why do people ALWAYS first jump in to attack Catholics when issues like this are raised? Awh you think the big bad pope is being mean by not letting them marry in his church? Not liberal enough for your liking? WHAT ABOUT SHARIA LAW FOR GOD'S SAKE?? You think you've got it bad over there with your anti-discrimination laws and jesting taxi drivers? You don't know you're born. GET A LIFE!

Sa`id, Jordan,

I was born in an era when homosexuality was outlawed and still should be as far as i am concerned.It is not normal whichever way you throw the dice.I noticed you only came out after you won the contest.Says it all really does'nt it.

david lawrence, wadhurst, england

You think it's still hard being gay? Try being gender-reassigned. Nobody bats an eyelid when we're mocked.

Sarah, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

You can't compare Britain with the Netherlands when it comes to sex issues - the British are still relatively prudish in comparison regarding ANYONE having sex! The sunday tabloids are evidence of that (they are even more prudish in the US). Still I do not believe you can discuss the issue of attitdues towards Gays and Lesbians in isolation - in general, a Society's changes and shifts in attitude do not happen overnight, it takes a generation or two and ultimately, the dying out of a generation with the old beliefs. Changing the Law only happens overnight, attitudes take longer but again, it does not mean we should give up or 'ramp up the campaign'. It will happen soon enough but perhaps not in our lifetimes? Will says ''Coming out should just be a statement of fact'' but the mere fact we feel the need to state our sexuality draws attention to it. Maybe Jodie Foster has the right idea - it's my private life and you don't need to know who I sleep with!

J, reading, uk

Absolutely spot on Will! The point is that legislative reform does only go so far. The driver wouldn't dream of making disparaging remarks if you weren't gay. It's not about prejudice, it's mundane homophobia and equally toxic to making society more egalitarian than larger instances of discrimination. The 'problem' with LGBT politics, if I can put it like that, is that it has to focus on key issues strategically, and its more difficult to deal with the everyday. But it is the politics that make the mundane more visible. There is a necessity as, as gay man, to be rather like Sammy Davis Jnr said about celebrity, "always on". We have to continue to make sure equality becomes embodied in our lived experience. This, as Jeffrey Weeks, might put it, is part of the world we have won!

Chin up Will: you actually do know how to deal with this stuff - and that is part of the victory too - the necessity now is for others to learn these skills, to deal with such rubbish in daily life. Timely.

Sean Reynolds, Dublin, Ireland

Most gay people I have met have said that they knew they were 'different' from a very early age and certainly before puberty. This leads me to think that it is definitely not a matter of choice to be gay, but something they were born with like skin/hair colour etc. if a child is born with Down's Syndrome due to one too many chromosones would we think it right to label them as evil? Of course not, it is just the way they were made. Why then are gay men and women villified for a similar quirk of nature? The bible and other religious books have something to say on the matter , but they were written thousands of years ago and I like to think we have moved on a little in understanding. The bible also says we shouldn't eat shelfish , but few of us bother with that little edict nowadays.

John Griffiths, Sutton Coldfield, UK

There is no battle to be won. Over the last few decades, certainly the last, it has been widely recognized that there are alternative lifestyles, especially it would seem among the media and entertainment industries, and that is a matter of individual choice. It is also a matter of individual choice for gay footballers and sportsmen and women to choose to emerge from the trunk, the cupboard or the closet, or even the swimming pool, whichever is appropriate. However, what we heterosexual people do not do, unlike gays, is run around shouting about our sexuality and whilst we might not agree with your lifestyle it is your choice. But, frankly, gay marches and parades through major cities and towns and numerous articles in the media is little more than an irritant. You have your lifestyle, now grow up and get on with it and do not seek to influence other people.

Kenneth Armitage, Suffolk, England

Some of the comments here are straight out of the middle ages. Being Gay is completely normal and it is good old mother nature balancing out the overpopulation of our poor planet. Note it is the churches which push forward breeding to poverty and exhaustion of the women of this planet that cannot come to terms with the reality of homosexuality. Until they catch up with reality and accept a natural way of being, ie. GAY, they will never be humanistic or kind. Also, we will probabley, like Gallileo, have to wait four centuries for an apology from these self serving hypocrites.
B.A.O'Reilly

bernard, London, London

Being a homosexual (gays & lesbians) is not a psychological problem but rather a spiritual problem. Gays are persons who are possessed. A man or woman who is possessed can speak and act the opposite of his/her gender.

GOD only created man and woman, but the devil always distorts his creation by making them the opposite, possessing the persons to act the opposite and to act against GOD's will and creation.

"The Holy Catholic Church once and for all should settle and tell what a homosexual person is".

But homosexuals should not be discriminated, mistreated nor persecuted, but rather be help to understand that being homosexual is against the will of GOD, so that he/she can escape from this possession.

Mark Herd, London, London

Well done Will for speaking up on behalf of gay people who are still suffering opression. Why is it that of all the gay celebrities it is Will who is always referred to as gay? There are many actors and singers who are openly gay but don't have this tag. Anyone watching The Friday night project last night would have been bombarded with gay sexual remarks, yes it was funny because two of the stars are gay so have earned the right to say these things. However in some contexts they were shoving their sexuality in our faces. Will has always tried to conduct his career and private life seperately so I admire him for speaking out for those who are not allowed to do so.

lesley arnold, boston/ lincolnshire, england

To DavidBruno from Brussels, Belgium:

EU-wide held surveys consistently show the Netherlands has among the highest rates of acceptance of homosexuality in the union. The recent attacks on homosexuals in Amsterdam have nothing to do with a (non-existent) decline in tolerance. They are the product of a tiny group of people in Dutch society which cherishes increasingly extremist views. Commonly, these people are between the ages of 15 and 25 with parents who weren't born in the Netherlands and they identify themselves as 'pure Muslims' (even though they clearly aren't). This group of people has recently started to violently lash out at everything they oppose, including homosexuality.

Dutch society remains extremely tolerant regarding same sex marriages and homosexuality in general. This isn't changing. Don't let the actions of a small group of people cloud your view of reality.

Erik, The Hague, Netherlands

Azam, I'm glad you seem able to write here that you are a gay muslim man - I am muslim too, and have been in a relationship with another woman for over 4 and a half years. I love and care about her so much but our families still don't know and we don't think we'll ever tell them out and out that we're together - it would simply hurt them too much. It seems that it's easier for muslim men to be openly gay than women...?? The thing is, if my partner was exactly the same person, but had the appearance of a man, we would have been married years ago! She's everything my parents would ever want for me!

S, London,

What an interesting articulate article from Will,who I totally admire. He makes the plea that gay practice should be accepted as normal "I have red hair, Idrink tea, I sleep with the same sex" Im afraid that many people are still predjudiced because they do not accept it is "normal" ----it does not allow for procreation so if we were all like this the human race would die out.. I rather prefer the definition that gay practice is "a normal variant of the human condition" If everyone could at least accept that the many people who are born with any variant ,whatever form it takes , should be accepted and respected like anyone else the world would be so much happier

P.Paget, Chelmsford,

It seems you are looking for a gay utopia. This will never happen as heterosexuals will, for innate biological reasons, always feels uncomfortable, about gay relationships/sex/men kissing on TV. Gays in the West have followed the political agenda of all minorities. The mantras go in this order:
1) leave us alone
2) recognise us
3) give us equality
4) give us preferential treatment
5) let us thrust our way of life (and the intimate details of our sexual behaviour) in your face

The problem is people never feel safe with minority status, and therefore must always strive for dominance. Matthew Paris is right: you have done enough, don't ruin it.

Lawrence, Liverpool, England

The reason why its much different and better in Holland for instance is that homosexuality was NEVER illegal and full marriage equality for same sex couples has been on the books since 2001, the first country to do so. Full marriage equality has done far more to normalise gay sexual orientation than civil partnerships will ever do which are nothing more than government sanctioned second-class citizenship, separate (meaning different) but equal. NOT! Belgium, Spain, Canada and South Africa got it right when they abandoned civil unions/partnerships and opened marriage to its gay citizens. The UK should do the same. Until then, there is no equality and no pure democracy in our country unlike those referenced previously. .

Robert W Pierce, Folkestone, Kent

"Will, you can be who you want to be, but you can't demand that other people approve. "

He doesn't demand that people go "well done", he just demands that people couldn't care less. All prejudices against homosexuals are based on irrational (often religious) rubbish, and it's time it changed.

Being gay may not be common, but it is something that occurs to some extent in all species of animals, including humans, and is therefore quite natural.

Legally gays may be equal, but as long as people still stop talking to their friends when they find out they're the "wrong" kind of sexuality, there's something seriously wrong with the attitude towards gays.

Mind you, Will, the Dutch aren't as blasé about is as you think, my (Dutch) mum has her fair share of prejudices against lesbians.

starling, Lancaster,

I agree with Peter Sawyer. What do gays want - is to be mandatory? About time they practised a little tolerance. They are almost as unliberal as the Liberal Democrats - in other words you can do whatever you like as long as you like exactly what I do.

Peggy W, Blyth, England

"The importance of seeing men who happen to be gay on your local cinema screen, or being able to cheer on a sportsman who happens to sleep with men isn’t trivial. It all helps to normalise the issue of homosexuality, to help to kill off the last remnants of homophobia. "

I agree - it's so important to see men and women in these positions who also happen to be gay; it breaks down steroetypes, which in turn calls people to re-evaluate their preconceptions. Because ALL can change their perception if they only want to ... and this way of 'normalising' as Will puts it, allows people to choose their own time and path there.

Of course, the main problem is encouraging those actors and sportsmen to be open in the first place - where are the advantages for them personally? As Will says, with so much prejudice still in those areas, it is hardly easy.

This is why it's such a big deal that Will has always been so open himself ... maybe you, Will, are the example Hollywood needs?!

Tracey, Reading,

In response to Toby Donovan's posting......no-one asked/demanded/begged your approval.

salim sunji, london,

This is an excellent reply to Matthew Parris's article. Matthew is one of my favourite columnists, but when I read his piece on Thursday the thought crossed my mind: 'oh dear oh dear, has he become a smug married?'

The battle isn't won as long as people continue to talk of the gay 'lifestyle'. That makes it sound as if we just saw Attitude magazine one day and thought, 'hmm, sounds fun, perhaps I should try it. Now, where do I buy the gear?' There is a choice involved, but it's between self-fulfilment and self-denial. To call those possibilities lifestyles is to obscure the debate.

Andrew, London, UK

You can't have it both ways - you can't, on the one hand want your sexuality not to be an issue, then at the same time demand more openly 'gay' sportsmen etc.

Furthemore there is a difference between a society where individuals are free to chose their lifestyle without prejudice - and one where we are compelled to approve. I don't like what you do but I agree that you are perfectly free to do it.

Finally, so you got a bit of flak from a cab driver - I get flak in the UK because I am Australian, I get flak because I am a lawyer and my son was beaten up coming home from school in Hertfordhire because of his accent. Welcome to the real world. Some people don't like you and some people will give you a hard time.

Stop bleating, get over it and get on with your life.

Michael, Brisbane (via London), Australia

You can't necessarily legislate to change the way people think, (like one poster said) but you can certainly, by discussing the issue, attempt to reduce ignorance, in the hope that people reconsider their views, which is exactly what Will Young is doing here and it's very welcome. I agree with him that it's not yet a time for complacency.

You can also legislate to banish discrimination in the media and to bring the same outlook in schools that is taken to racist attitudes. These things do work as has been shown by the public outcry caused by racist comments on Big Brother recently.

I hope there will be a time when people of different sexuality are given the same respect as people of different race.

Carrie Bowes, Gillingham, Kent

I don't see why we should be worried about an important health measure coming through distreacting us from the fight of gays to impose on society what they perceive to be rights.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

Gay people will not have won the battle, until they are no longer referred to as "gay" but just people!

Cath, Godley, England

Putting passive-aggressive jokes from cabbies aside, I thank God for Germany, Great Britian and many EU countries for beginning to open a door to those simply looking to live life honestly. I am an American living in Germany because the US government not only refuses to recognize my civil union with my German partner of 4 years, allowing legal immigration, it actively persues the enactment of laws to prevent me from ever permanently returning to my friends, family and homeland.
When a man has to move out of the US to find freedom, there obviously remains so much more to do to give equality to gays and lesbians.

Ron, Dortmund, Germany

In today's modern society the intolerance of a gay life style still stems from irrational religious dogma. If we still look to the bible for our morality, many people will still have an intensive moral objection to homosexuality. However the sooner we embrace science and reason and reject the irrational preachings of religion, the sooner we will enter the frame of a new moral zeitgeist, one where we finally begin to realise that labelling the individual actions of consenting adults (that cause no harm to others) as 'immoral' is completely reprehensible in every respect.

Daniel, Leeds,

Will, you can be who you want to be, but you can't demand that other people approve. We live in a society where, thankfully, gay men are free to be gay men, and taxi drivers are free to make jokes. Next time have a come-back ready!

Toby Donovan, London,

Some homosexuals may be different from other homosexuals but the sexual 'act' of homosexuality binds all together. 41 years ago this 'act' was illegal and from my point of view still should be.

The Churches are silent on the matter as hypocrites should be. The government have opened Pandora's box and having done so like Chanute cannot stop the flow of demands for change, nor do they wish to. The British public are gagged and bound by political correctness and see that a change in government will make no difference.

Well these people can demand via legislation that all heterosexual people WILL see homosexuals in a different light and WILL accept their lifestyle as 'normal'. As for me the government can pass all the legislation in the world but they cannot change what is in my mind and what I think. Thank God that luxury is still free and not controlled.

Nigel Graham-Miller, valencia, Spain

I am in the opinion that we should all be able to live our life as we feel. If you are Gay then great you are gay, and if you are straight then great you are straight. However I do find the term "He is a gay" Offensive as it is incorrect English "He is Gay" is the correct terminology. To start saying that someone is something using an article in the wrong place is just teaching bad grammar. You would never say of Frank Bruno "He is a black" it would just be "He is black". So why do we overuse definition when it comes to sexuality. I can only assume that the mass public who watch shows such as "Little Britain" are drawn in by the comedy of Matt Lucas's "I am a Gay" are unaware that comedy is only comedy and not to be used in conjunction for the way people are in the real world.

So let us push forward with whatever floats our boat..but please let's do it in correct English.

Jim, Oulu, Finland

The "gay lifestyle" Mr Sawyer?? What is that? I work just like my straight colleagues, I go to the pub just like them, I go to the mosque on Friday’s just like my straight Muslim friends, I also eat at the same restaurants. I could go on. What is it about my lifestyle that you don’t agree with? Is it that I have a same-sex partner? Do you also “not agree” with mixed-race couples? Or maybe couples that have big age differences? Mr Sawyer – gay people, like myself, do not impose our lifestyle on anyone - we are quite happy getting on with life and contributing to society. Maybe next time I see a girl and guy kissing in the street, I shall make it known that by doing so they are imposing their hetero lifestyle on me.

Azam Mehdi, London, England

I read a book recently entitled
WHY MEN DON'T LISTEN AND WOMEN CAN'T READ MAPS
It explains so much about human conditioning over millions of years but it also gave the reason some men are gay while others are heterosexual. It is all predestined when you are born.
In short homosexuals are as naturally occuring as red hair, lefthandedness or shortsightness.

G J BUNTON, SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE

As usual when homosexuiality is being discussed in the mainstream media, 'gay rights' is all about rights for gay men, while the issues regarding rights for lesbians are very much ignored - it's yet another proof that Matthew Parris was wrong to say everything's been achieved now and can we just shut up please, and also why Will Young is right to say that the everyday arena of life still is far from equal for people who prefer same sex to different sex.
Perennial homophobia based on indifference and ignorance permeats everyday life everywhere; legal gains have not cancelled this out by far, so can straights now please shut up about us needing to shut up and not ram out homosexuality down their throat.

ELE, London, UK

How about this: Winning the battle is not about imposing their lifestyle on others, which most straights are trying to do. Those of us who are gay who disagree with the straight lifestyle, nevertheless say its up to straights to practice that lifestyle if that is their wish!

Alex Grigny de Castro, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

As someone who has followed the career of Will Young since it's start, he does seem to suffer more than many the 'gay' micky taking type of comments from journalists and critics. If he's sensitive about it, it's understandable - as it could well affect his ambitions for an acting career. He's played two gay roles so far - maybe he doesn't get offered straight roles? I agree with him, there's a long way to go to change public attitudes - but people like him are helping. Well done to him for explaining things from his point of view.

sue, Norfolk,

Peter sayer, Barnet, Herts reply to will's article says it all. Apparently we gays are imposing are lifestyle on others, oh, sorry some gays are. Simply telling people you are gay is enough for people to create a stereotype of gay in their minds. I'm out and I'm proud of who I am; being gay is a small part of who I am but straights can not seem to get the word gay out of their heads.

Kevin, Belfast,

Wow gee Peter I am sure we will all rest easy knowing we have your approval albeit grudgingly.

stephen, basingstoke,

Will, you are being way too sensitive! Minority groups have always been - and always will be - the subject of jokes and obnoxious comments - just as some gays make obnoxious comments about each other and others. The belief that all such behaviour can be 'banished' (just how?) is delusional and will lead to disappointment. The best antidote is to make the best of your own life, to rise above such comments and to set a good example - and not to peddle the myth that 'all gays are normal' : gays are a mixed bunch and are no more normal/abnormal than any other segment of the population (what IS normality? Should we strive to achieve it? Why?!!)

BTW, the idea that The Netherlands is a nirvana of tolerance is mistaken: Amsterdam Tourist Authority last year issued a warning to gay tourists to be extra vigilant about homophobic assaults by 'people who do not share the same social values'...Yes, some societies are becoming less tolerant and that is something worth battling against.

DavidBruno, Brussels, Belgium

Gays have already won the battle to be themselves. Winning the battle is not about imposing their lifestyle on others, which some gays are trying to do. Those of us who are straight who disagree with the gay lifestyle, nevertheless say its up to gays to practice that lifestyle if that is their wish!

Peter Sawyer, Barnet, Herts