Madam, - Tony Allwright (Head 2 Head, January 14th) gets it all wrong when it comes to gay marriage.
His loosely veiled discrimination against lesbian and gay couples seeking the right to civil marriage is framed in terms of concern over providing the same benefits to "other partnerships" - such as cohabiting elderly brothers .
Let's nail this once and for all: if the Government wants to legislate for cohabiting siblings then it can if it wants. But that it is an entirely separate argument to legislating for full equality for gay and lesbian couples by granting them access to full civil marriage.
Moreover, it might be possible to take Mr Allwright seriously if he didn't display such obvious bigotry towards homosexual people who, in his view, indulge in "fruitless sex". With this comment his mask slips, and it is all too obvious that he is merely a mouthpiece for the far right whose outdated view of human sexuality belongs to an Ireland that we all hoped we had left behind. - Yours, etc,
GRAINNE HEALY, Co-Chair, MarriagEquality, Hogan Avenue, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Were you distracted by the crossword when you sanctioned some unknown, self-described blogger and part-time engineering and industrial safety management consultant named Tony Allwright to pen a piece against the possibility of the Irish State sanctioning gay marriage?
Is this the latest in "reality journalism"? What makes his particular opinions worthy of being shared with your readers? Mere mortals are best confined to the Letters page.
Surely The Irish Times should rise above accommodating those who loosely and lazily refer to uncited "numerous studies" and events and consequences in unnamed "other jurisdictions", and who pejoratively introduce the abortion argument, not to mention tax-dodgers - both other arguments for other days.
Furthermore, Mr Allwright makes no mention of the legitimacy of tax breaks for married couples in so-called "fruitless" sexual relationships. He can keep his mountebank pity for the "tiny minority" who seek equal opportunity and respect as equal citizens of this republic. - Yours, etc,
TIM FORDE, Swords, Co Dublin.