Sir, – "Homophobia hits home" read the timely headline to Donald Clarke's film review of Dallas Buyers Club (The Ticket, February 7th) with actor Matthew McConaughey as "an obnoxious bigot (who) becomes a most unlikely good guy in this stirring true-life drama". Clarke concludes his critique by saying the film is "in its way a political picture" and "a properly moving one". Hopefully, everyone who vows they are not remotely homophobic and would challenge anyone who would suggest otherwise will see Canadian Jean-Marc Vallée's first American film and embrace its truths. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Albert Park,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – We often hear that denying certain individuals access to marriage because of their sexual orientation is discrimination.
While I agree with this statement I would like to point out that the current law in Ireland does not deny access to marriage because of sexual orientation. Gender is what matters. No specific sexual orientation is required to enter into marriage. This is the case not only for individuals but also for couples.
Same-sex couples cannot get married not because of their sexual orientation but because of the gender of the two individuals involved. Two straight or bisexual men (or women) cannot get married. We might discuss if this is just or unjust, but in any case the discrimination is based on gender, not on sexual orientation, and therefore it is not in itself homophobic. Maybe genderphobic? – Yours, etc,
ANGELO BOTTONE,
Chanel Road, Dublin 5.