John Deighan uses the questionable debating technique of ascribing to his opponents a position they don't hold (Letters, March 9).

His assertion that those of us working for equal marriage law wish to marginalise the influence of religion in society is simply false.

Many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have a religious faith, and many would like to marry in that faith.

A range of churches and other religious bodies want to conduct legally recognised same-sex marriages – including the Unitarians, Quakers, Liberal Jews and others. We strongly support their right to do so, hardly a sign of wanting religion marginalised in society.

We regret that other religious bodies don't think same-sex couples deserve equal treatment. But that is their choice, and they will be free to maintain that view, and free not to conduct same- sex marriages.

We support the exemption that those bodies have in law from sexual orientation and gender identity anti-discrimination rules. That exemption applies to all of their religious activities, including marriage.

What we would disagree with would be an attempt by the Catholic Church to impose its specific rules on marriage on all the other religious bodies, on civil law, or on those of us in Scotland who are of a different religion or not members of any religion.

Tim Hopkins,

Equality Network,

30 Bernard Street,

Edinburgh.