Defending the view that opposition to same-sex marriage need not be homophobic, Martin Allen says:
"Freedom from … [homophobia] does not imply approval of same-sex marriage" (Gay marriage view not a contradiction, Letters, April 13). It is not a sufficient defence to say one's opposition to same-sex marriage is grounded in principle, for principles can be homophobic; or is grounded in moral beliefs, for a morality can be homophobic; or grounded in religion, for a faith can be homophobic.
Mr Allen relies on the Oxford English Dictionary's odd definition of homophobia as "extreme" aversion to homosexuality and homosexual acts. Perhaps he means to suggest that a moderate amount of aversion is all right and can legitimately be the basis of opposition to same-sex marriage.
Paul Brownsey
Glasgow
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