TADHG O'BRIEN,
Sir, - To debunk the notion of equality all I need to do is make a couple of references to "lesbian fascists" alongside "one-eyed Panamanian trick-cyclists" (John Waters, June 10th), perhaps a few sneering remarks about "menopausal lesbians" (Kevin Myers, June 20th), and for good measure a small sprinkling of whatever it is I dislike about the Equality Authority. Quod erat demonstrandum, end of argument, because, sadly, this is what passes for journalism these days.
Neither Mr Waters nor Mr Myers gives one reason why a gay couple would make lesser parents than a straight couple. In fact, many gay couples are already parents despite a total lack of legal recognition or protection for parent or child under Irish law.
Last month the American Psychoanalytic Association (APA) said that the best interests of the child, and not sexual orientation, should be the determining factor in parenting decisions, including adoption.
The APA concludes there is no evidence to suggest it has any effect on a child's sexual orientation or mental health. They highlight that children of same-sex parents live at great risk due to the non-recognition of both parents by many governments, and point out "children in many of these families can be denied insurance coverage or medical care in an emergency."
Ivo O'Sullivan (June 18th) denies he is suggesting that law should be enacted in accordance with scripture, yet insists that it should be - under certain circumstances. He refers me to a recent letter in this newspaper outlining the "harmful consequences" of bearing children outside the traditional nuclear family. Might I direct him to the works of Francis Fukuyama, in particular his thesis and published book The End of Order. Fukuyama has tirelessly studied the effects of the breakdown of the nuclear family in the West, and is widely regarded as the world's most authoritative source on the matter.
Back in the real world, fewer and fewer families fit the narrow definition of "traditional nuclear family", a trend that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. Fukuyama concluded that the only way of stopping this trend would be to reverse the economic independence of women, a policy I suspect Mr O'Sullivan's "Judeo-Christian" friends would not endorse, and nor would I.
I take great offence at Mr O'Sullivan's implication that there is something un-Christian about being gay, and I take great issue with his insinuation that the non-nuclear family - including single mothers, divorced and widowed families - are against "Judeo-Christian" ethics. - Is mise,
TADHG O'BRIEN,
President,
Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual Society,
Trinity College,
Dublin 2.