Letter: Age of consent

Sir: Yet again we have to listen to the outpourings of moral indignation from those opposed to lowering the age of consent for homosexuals to that of heterosexuals.

What morality displays such displeasure at other people's happiness, such prejudice against a minority which would not be tolerated if expressed against anyone with a different skin-colour, such ignorance of the splendid and many-coloured aspects of human emotions and inclinations?

They key word is "consent". If a boy and a girl of 16 are deemed capable of making the momentous decision to have sex and so realise the potential of creating a child, then at 16 any homosexual boy or girl should be deemed capable of giving or withholding consent to a sexual relationship.

MICHAEL WRIST

Ely, Cambridgeshire