"Yes society becomes more tolerant toward people like that, but then again that's why we world wars to get societies to revise their moral standards."

That's butch talk, Andrew in Chicago. You make the neo-cons sound like wimps.

Peter, London,

"There's never been a better place to be gay than Britain." How about Sitges?

Peter, Barcelona,

Whilst Mr Parris was clinging on to his closet socialists and progressives were campaigning for Gay rights and civil liberties funny how quickly the conservatives like Parris forget how their Party and ideology persecuted Gays.

Bill Posters, Leeds, UK

Hahaha, I didn't think Matthew's article was any great revelation and I quite agree with it. Considered within the whole post, I was more amused by his observations (mine as well) about the new Smoking Laws. I don't smoke anymore, quit at 50 cents a pack. As a good gay, I mostly waved one around anyway, burning holes in my tweed. I live in Dallas where we don't smoke in public buildings, around doorways and must not smoke in bars at the service area (okay a foot away, though). It's interesting as I travel to see how smokers are encountering laws, and nonsmokers encountering new freedoms to return to old haunts. As a gay man, I've pretty much integrated myself; it's interesting to watch the smokers, somehow it's familiar. Anyway, amusing to see how response was slanted to the "post-homosexulism" instead of non-smoking. Who says cultures are homogenous?

Lee Chevalier, Dallas, TX/USA

Hetorosexuals have sex their way, and gay people have sex their way - who cares? It's NOBODY'S business but their own!

If there is no problem in being gay in today's world, how is it that there must be THOUSANDS of gay people 'in the closet' who are frightened to be themselves? I feel sorry for those people, as despite what you say in your article, it speaks for itself that these 'closeted' people are desperately afraid of any homophobic lashbacks and lead a life of deceit.

Stu, London, England

"Whilst its now legal and therefore tolerated, it's still an unnatural act."

Since you are born gay, not made gay (seriously, why would anyone want to be gay voluntarily?), it is natural by definition. It may not be common, but it is natural.

starling, Lancaster,

matthew, i have to be honest, i'm not your greatest fan ... but in this article you have managed to bring people out of the closet: not the post-homosexual closet as you had maybe intended, but the biggots closet.
i am appalled by some of the comments i have read posted here. thankfully they do not in any way represent the thoughts and views of the great many people that i have come into contact with during the course of my life as a gay man in britain, holland, russia, turkey ...

homosexuality and heterosexuality permeate all religions and all races. they have done for centuries ... and anyone that disputes the rights of individuals to enter into consensual, loving relations is, frankly, wrong in their stance simply because they are thereby denying others the rights that they themselves enjoy. what is it that they are afraid of?

garyh, istanbul, turkey

Paul Savage is quite right. It is an unnatural act. The trouble is, it's also splendid good fun!

Tom Caedmon , Whitby, North Yorkshire

I find a lot of heterosexual sex acts disgusting. I don't often say so, because it is pretty irrelevant really.

Matthew, you forgot to mention the lifting of the ban on homosexuality in the UK armed forces, which has greatly changed the lives of many gay people, like me, serving in the armed forces. I tend to agree the subject of gay rights has become a bit of a bore.

Jonathan, Basra, Iraq

Speaking as a (not very compotent) evangelical Christian, I would like to applaud Matthew Parris' comments. My take on homosexuality is that it's none of my business what Mr Paris chooses to get up to in his own time. From my experience, plenty of Christians feel that way too. We've got plenty to be getting on with in our backyards... But Paul Balmforth, where does that hatred and bile come from? And please, don't dare bring God into it. It's YOUR hatred you're talking about. A bit of Godly love wouldn't go amiss, which is the Biblical message.

Simon, Colwyn Bay, North Wales

As a straight man I'm a little disturbed by some of the homophobia on display here. Although I wonder what the real root of such hateful remarks can be? People who harbour the desire for someone to burn, even for one second, surely are not awake.

Jake Turner, Inner Mongolia, China

"Would it matter if I was saved by a rapist, a child molester, a peeping Tom, a necrophiliac?"

All compared to gay people, huh? Nice.

A woman who was raped, a child who was molested, someone dressing at the window, a corpse...none give their consent. A same-sex couple do.

Well said Matthew, but I'd nitpick and say that while gays don't need to harp on about their sexuality as much or feel that they have to act over-the-top John Inman/Julian Clary-style any more, the talking shouldn't cease altogether, because while the issue of social acceptance remains in the papers, hopefully more homophobic people will question their closed-minded views; perhaps even why they dwell on something that doesn't affect them and has nothing to do with them whatsoever

Ste, Liverpool, UK

"There's never been a better place to be gay than Britain?

What? Are you jesting? You guys are famous for it.

And bad teeth, of course.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

I suppose that Mr Parris intends that to be a recommendation for Britain? After 10 years of Hard Labour it is the only one that I can think of.

Tony G, Harrogate, UK

I'm a died-in-the-wool atheist and think the lot of you are utterly disgusting creatures. Bottom of the barrell creeps. I can't seperate the perversion from the pervert. My Catholic wife, however, believing that sex is something that should only be shared between a man and a women because, she believes, God wants it that way, thinks you are sinners who need help like everybody and doesn't judge. You'd prefer her company to mine, put it that way.

Lewis, Pen-y-Groes,

I find a lot of heterosexual sex acts disgusting. I don't often say so, not because I fear it will get me the sack, but because it is pretty irrelevant really.

Matthew, you forgot to mention the lifting of the ban on homosexuality in the UK armed forces, which has greatly changed the lives of many gay people, like me, serving in the armed forces. I tend to agree the subject of gay rights has become a bit of a bore.

Jonathan, Basra, Iraq

Society by its own term suggests a 'common' event. That there are 'gays in common' suggests a social structure inclusive of homosexuals. Don't make the mistake that society has any choice to accept or reject this 'natural and non-selective' expression of love. We are sitting next to you on the train, we are your boss, we educate your children, you dine in our restaurants, you wear the clothes we design, we are part of your government, you listen to my music, you read my novels, I am one of your friends.

John P, London,

Paul Balmforth may have put it a little strongly, but his basic premise is pretty accurate.

Certainly most straight men find the very idea of male homosexual sex to be revolting. We just don't often say so, on account of the likelihood of being sacked in the febrile, politically correct world which is modern, homosexual-friendly Britain.

We're still quite happy admitting it amongst our own, though.

j griffiths, manchester, england

"I speak as a twenty five year old athiest and in common with all of my friends I despise the gay perversion. Don't make the mistake that society has accepted this revolting behaviour because we haven't. I do wish that there were a God so that you could roast in hell." Paul Balmforth, London

LOL. Freudian Projection?

DJ, Loughborough, UK

Well Matthew, I wouldn't exactly say that in "the whole history of mankind there has been no better, luckier, time or place to be gay than Britain in 2007. "

I think Canadians are entitled to say that about their country where FULL equality has been achieved by opening marriage to same-sex couples, the last hurdle. We've opted for second-class, separate but "equal" (which it is not) status. Our country is arguably the most class-ridden society on this planet, why add yet another tier?

In the U.S states of Vermont and New Jersey, socalled Civil Unions, similar to Civil Partnerships are not working and legislation is being drafted to convert them into full marriage. Why can't the UK be a leader for once and do the same? Vermont was the first state in 2000 to opt for such unions over marrriage. Leave the UK with a Civil Partnership and you'll find it means nothing, whereas civil marriage is the gold standard in every country on this planet.

Robert W. Pierce, New York, USA

I remember my first trip to England - eager to try cider and some of that delicious pub-grub I'd heard so much about. Even before I had the chance to place my order, my eyes were burning and my nose was running from the thick cloud of smoke inside, and I had to leave.
I 've thought for a long time, that the real perversion lay in someone obsessed with what others do in the bedroom. You're right, Matthew, at this point, hearing anyone talk on and on about his/her sexuality, is like having to look at a wallet full of someone else's photos.

Thomasyne Flynn, Leiden, The Netherlands

Of course Mr Parris conveniently forgets that all of these reforms came in with a Labour Government not the Tories of whom he was a member and representantive!

f.pyme, london, u.k.

"Let’s remind them that in the whole history of mankind there has been no better, luckier, time or place to be gay than Britain in 2007. "
I can understand your excitement, but a little perspective might be in order. Other countries such as Canada have gay marriage, not civil partnerships for a couple of years now and as in the case of the province of B.C. same sex couples have been able to adopt since 1997. So although I offer congratulations on Britains success, it is success that is catching up to others, few I admit, but other countries success in gay rights.

Nat Nasci, Vancouver, Canada

In response to Gary from Birmingham,
Would it matter if I was saved by a rapist, a child molester, a peeping Tom, a necrophiliac? You bring up an issue that is not only irrelevant, but futile in defense of this abhorrent lifestyle. The fact remains it's morally wrong. It is unnatural. And up until late 70's it was still a psychological disorder. Yes society becomes more tolerant toward people like that, but then again that's why we world wars to get societies to revise their moral standards.

Andrew, Chicago, USA

Matthew

Oh well said, what is it with all this "Oh I am gay and it is SO difficult" nonsense. I am 43 and have been out for 11 years. In those 11 years, the age of consent has been equalised, laws have been passed not allowing people to discriminate against me, we can get "married", and society (at last) now realises that we are no different form straight people (not that this weeks Ch 4 series has helped in this matter).

I was talking to two 18 yr olds guys the other week, their best friends ran a "gay health clinic". Why? What do we need a gay health clinic for, show me a gum clinic, or a GP surgery that treats gay people any differently from straight people.

In addition why oh why do (some) young gay men seem to want to be camp "oooh I am gay so I want to be flaunt it darling".

We must realise, all of us, that we are people first, we have jobs, drive cars, live in society, play sports, etc and are Gay last, not the other way around.

Andrew Hyett, London,

Thing is Matthew, it's old hat to you but....

being able to read your column has been the thing that most helped my 15 year old son feel OK about being gay. It's in the Times for goodness sake, it must be nearly normal!

He needs that since school is hell and his father's homophobic.

Don't stop. Please.

Cathy D, Manchester, UK

In response to Paul Bamforth. Am I right in thinking you are from some inner city council estate and live in fear of what you don't understand? Why do you care who other people sleep with? Or is it too close for comfort? Why can't you accept people for who they are rather than judging someone on their sexual preference alone? What if someone saved your life? Would it matter to you then if they were gay or not? Would you not accept their help if they were gay? Is it just homosexuals you are against or shall we throw in race and religion too?

Gary, Birmingham,

Is there ever a best time to be gay?
Whilst its now legal and therefore tolerated, it's still an unnatural act.

Paul Savage, Lambourn, Berkshire

With so many single parent families headed by a woman, daughters absorb their mother's attitudes; namely "all men are rapists", and "it's cool to hate men". Sons grow up wanting the complete antisepsis of their mother as a partner. The options are either a very feminine woman, which could mean Asian, or they take the homosexual option. So for both sons and daughters the potential of parenting 100% Caucasian children is diminished.
Keep this up and the UK branch of the Caucasian race is at risk of subsumption. Not that I'm against this, but when it's hard to find 100% Caucasian children in the elementary school, it's a bit late to spit the dummy.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa

"The brave thing now is to take the battle into the cathedrals, temples, synagogues and Rastafarian dives..."

Charming.

Debbie, Leeds,

"Let’s remind them that in the whole history of mankind there has been no better, luckier, time or place to be gay than Britain in 2007."

That's probably true - but it would have also have been true if an equivalent journalist in Berlin had made that comment 75 years ago about his life in Wiemar Germany.
Then came 1933 :-(
Matthew Paris's party's Section 28 was a (fortunately mild) reminder that reaction would be possible here too. The price of liberty remains eternal vigilance.

Eric , London, England

'Clapham Junction' was negative beyond recognition. Having said that I have just received homophobic abuse from a stranger in Cardiff on a Thursday night for nothing more than being playful with a straight female friend. Matthew, I think you live in a cosy intellectual ghetto. Yes the legal fight may be more or less won - thanks to Tony Blair's Government but I challenge you to go out on a Saturday night to a city centre pub outside London and behave in an obviously gay manner. Then we'll see how boring talking about being gay is next week.

Neil C, Cardiff, UK

Yes, London is great if you are a reasonably wealthy gay man. Yet the rates of verbal and physical abuse of gay men and lesbians even in London are horrific compared to most other groups. It is worse for the rest of the world. Look at Nigeria and the lovely Bishop Ankinola sponsoring the most draconian of legislation which would ban gay men from even talking to each other. He says that it's not so bad because in the North there is Sharia law which demands stoning to death, so that's all right then. An easy jet flight to many weekend destinations in our sister European countries will find the lot of gay men and lesbians very much poorer, their physical and mental health more threatened, than our own. So go to your opera Matthew and feel as smug and lucky as you like. Lets hope your ennui does not overcome you too much. I''ll continue to challenge heterosexism , bigotry and discrimination and disadvantage until gay men and lesbians everywhere are treated in the fashion you enjoy

David Reid, London,

Mathew plays casually with the words 'sin' and 'persecution' Sin is an act forbidden by religion, Therefore the legality of the act does not change its status . For example, Christianity considers it a sin. At the time it was being denounced loudly in Bible times, it was widely practised in Rome, Greece, and in their pre-Christian days by some converts -I Cor. 6, 10-.12 ..Nor homosexual offenders... will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were changed...' That, e.g. sex outside marriage is legal, does not make it a non-sin. Sin is in the eye of the beholder, while civil law is absolute and binding on all. Sin is punished by a higher being, if you belive in one.

Now to persecution. Christians, for example admonish, they do not persecute (these days). Persecution is what the 22 missionaries are facing in Afghanistan, or people being killed and imprisoned for their beliefs all over the world (Gay or Straight). Let's not trivialise the word

Nike Olafimihan, Den Haag, Netherlands

Paul Balmforth.
What does it matter to you whether someone is Homosexual or not? I am a married man with forty years service,I have never agreed with gay behaviour,but your irrational hatred suggests to me a deeper underlying unhappiness you need to redress.

Michael Rigby, Blackburn, England

I know an eldery couple who haven't been to their local since 1992 because it was turned into a gay club.

Rachael, Kent,

If you "take the plunge", doesn't that mean you're going in?

Bernard Woolley, Whitehall,

One of my favourite stories concerns the "gay" son of the Tory PM Stanley Badlwin.
Stanley accepted the fact without demurr or question.
He, however, was completely baffled when his son became a paid up member of the Labour Party.
Come back Mr Baldwin we need your commonsense.

Peter Bolt, Redditch, UK

Totally agree - its time to stop shouting it from the tree tops. Its the equivalent of me going round shouting "I'm black you know!"

Linda, Bristol,

I am sorry that religions are still the main persecutors of homosexuals, but Matthew Parris should not be too downhearted, they persecute all of us and particuluarly each other for just about everything as well. I have never had homosexuals knocking on my door wanting me to join them or give them money, though I have had hundreds of unwanted solicitations from religious pests, so if I had to be marooned on a desert island with a homosexual or a bishop I wouldn't need long to choose. At least with the former you'd stand a chance of him being intelligent enough to talk to.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Last week's response to Dean Godson's "Do we have to treat Muslims as Muslims?"
Stop treating different races as "others". Stop labelling people who happen to be, for example, Jewish as Jews or gays as gay.
Let's be far more subjective. Ask yourself "Who is this person in front of me now? Are they interesting & intelligent, or dull & stupid? Are they honest & kind or spiteful thieves?"
Use judgement & instincts, but base those on what is actually known about the personality of each individual, rather than race (which is about as important to me as the amount of sunscreen they use) religion (as vital as where they disappear to for a couple hours every week) or sexual preference (as important as whether they prefer brunnettes over blondes or not).
If such things are important to the individual, then I can decide whether their views make them interesting or pedantic, & associate with them as I choose. Other than that I really don't care. A simple way to live.
Echo?

Joe, London, UK

What a good idea Matthew - religion bashing!

And there was this poor, self-deluded, superstitious evangelical thinking that we lived in a new tolerant society.

Peter Morrow, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland

To Paul Balmforth, can I just explain to you that being gay is not a perversion, nor indeed is it a lifestyle choice. I speak from very painful personal experience as a 38 year old man who felt compelled to live a 'straight life' despite feeling I was gay from a very early age. I have only recently reluctantly accepted the way I am, I don't want to be gay, but after 38 years of feeling that I have to live a lie I can do it no more. I don't expect everyone to be comfortable with the physical acts performed by same sex couples, but really then why do you need to think about it?

Steve D, Loughborough, LEICS

No better place to be gay than Britain? I don't believe it. When I lived in Britain recently I was astonished by the frequency of violent anti-gay hate crimes. They're routine in the UK in a way that they are not, for example, in Canada. Clearly that's not a difference that affects only gays - the UK is generally a more violent place - but it does tint the gay experience in Britain.

BJ Miller, Toronto, Canada

This is not the first time you've mentioned this Matthew : I remember seeing you on TV in some programme years ago where you had to speak to someone in a lift I think for several minutes. You and Peter Tatchell were together and you were trying to persuade him then, in the days when he was always on some pink march or other, of being "quieter".

Sue Green, Bath, Somerset

Matthew Parris has only identified half of the issue of the celebratory nature of :gayness'. We are where we are now as a result of a very long struggle. The benefits of psuedo-equality, and I use this term advisedly are manifold. We have not yet achieved full equality, as in the main it is laws which have changed, but not necessarily peoples attitudes. There are still many bigots out there!
Where I really diverge from Mathew's views is the realisation that these 'rights' which have been won, can easily be lost.
There is an obvious precedent in the almost liberated sitution of 1920s Germany, which was emphatically crushed by the Third Reich.
Therefore I maintain that as of nature gay people are not generational in the sense of having families, that there is still a need to make aware to the generation of gays who are arriving ing an arena where there are few threats, the struggle which brought about this situation.
So Matthew from your elevated place; think again

Alan Mead, London, UK

it's not gays moaning it's the anti gays! Matthew, nearly every day i see, hear or read an anti gay comment and not because gays are going on about being gay. We still have a long way to go to be equal, Matthew. There is no such thing as post homosexual because that would be fun for us gays. Our sexuality should not be a factor on how we are judged. Only recently a junior minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly said that he is repulsed by gays and that gays harm society. He works in the office responsible for equality legislation. God, I wish I could be a post homosexual but I live in the real world Mathew.

Kevin, Belfast,

I would agree that the legal battle is pretty much over, But I belive the Socio-cultural battle is something only vigilance will change.

Untill the Casual Homophobia of the media is openly questioned and anti-gay language is challenged, I believe we have a problem. We have a well documented culture of homophobic bullying in schools.

Recently, A report in Liverpool said that "14% of gay, lesbian or transgendered households had been attacked in recent years by people identified as neighbours."

Living in a big "metropolitan" city perhaps presents a rose tinted perspective, but the fact within any given city we have "ghettos" in itself suggests an issue?

Legal protection is only the start of the cultural changes that are required before we have "equality"

Dan Green, Sheffield, Yorkshire

I always find MP's calm humanity an antidote to the hysteria of most newspaper writers. I, too celebrate the fact that he and his male partner can share a table at his local pub with an elderly couple and no-one seems to raise an eyebrow. The battle is perhaps 90 per cent won. I sympathise, as one half of a (straight) mixed-race couple. We used to fear going in to local pubs together. But we have not had a problem for years. The UK is over-regulated, perhaps. But increasingly tolerant.

Henry Goose, Pembrokeshire,

I always find MP's calm humanity an antidote to the hysteria of most newspaper writers. I, too celebrate the fact that he and his male partner can share a table at his local pub with an elderly couple and no-one seems to raise an eyebrow. The battle is perhaps 90 per cent won. I sympathise, as one half of a (straight) mixed-race couple. We used to fear going in to local pubs together. But we have not had a problem for years. The UK is over-regulated, perhaps. But increasingly tolerant.

Henry Goose, Penbrokeshire,

Matthew, if you are now bored with talking about being gay, are we to assume that the fees you received for participating in Channel 4's '40 Years On' series are to be given to charity? Entretaining and insightful though your contributions were, I'd hate to think you were forced into talking about your sexuality against your will...

Sophie, Birmingham,

Bravo Mr Parris. As so often before you make the point succinctly. As a straight I too have wondered why gays bang on about their sexuality as much as they do. The intolerance, fine, but the sexuality: who cares?

Likewise the smoking thing, where I do declare a note of PC intolerance creeps into your closing comment. So you mean your Dad would have been immortal if he hadn't smoked? We must all try that.

Since this is the Times after all I shall be pretentious: Voltaire once said, admiringly, that the English go to heaven by whatever road they choose. And presumably, hell too.

As a reformed smoker I too prefer the smoke-free atmosphere of public places. But as a proud Englishman I resent, profoundly, the contemporary fascism of my fellow-countrymen!

John Bull, London, UK

"Our main persecutors now are religions..." I speak as a twenty five year old athiest and in common with all of my friends I despise the gay perversion. Don't make the mistake that society has accepted this revolting behaviour because we haven't. I do wish that there were a God so that you could roast in hell.

Paul Balmforth, London, England

As well as general stocks of fear and disapproval, there is the one of belief in inherent and inescapable wickedness. We got rid of the religious notion of original sin and replaced it with "environmental awareness".

Fanny Herring, Norwich,

allow me to join u as a post homosexualist too. I also agree with u it is the best time to be gay in the UK, esp london.

anthony wong, london, uk