In his letter (Post, 26 July) Noel Gorman asks about my view of the gay pride parade, which occurs in 'our' capital city just one single day every year. I would like to invite Mr Gorman to visit 'our' capital city any weekend night.

There he will witness half-dressed young heterosexuals parading up and down the streets openly flaunting their sexuality. Not to mention the groups of stags and hens, who adorn weird regalia and display slogans boasting of their sexual prowess, to announce their forthcoming heterosexual marriages.

This of course is all just good fun, to which I do not object. But if I do not want to see it, well then I avoid those streets in Dublin.

I would advise Mr Gorman that if he does not want to witness the gay pride parade, then do not go to it.

I am most bemused by Mr Gorman's argument that since the decriminalisation of homosexuality, those involved in the humane reform have faced the wrath of the Irish people.

He failed to mention the legal adviser for the campaign, Mary Robinson, who played an intrinsic role in achieving decriminalisation.

Does Mr Gorman suggest that the Irish people punished her action by electing her as president of Ireland?

As for the decline of Fianna Fáil since decriminalisation. Well, for how long has Fianna Fáil been the elected government since 1993?

For the record, Mr Gorman, academics do not dispense medicine, we dispense wise words!

Dr Sonja Tiernan,

Centre for Gender and Women's Studies,

Trinity College Dublin