Letter: Age of consent debate rages on

Sir: Edwina Currie, MP, is quoted as saying that homosexuality in Britain was subject to enforced discrimination which was now 'out of date, indefensible and way out of line with the rest of the world' ('Time to turn dark shadow into a human', 22 February).

Who does she mean by the 'rest of the world'? African, Asian, South American countries? Do they all legalise or decriminalise homosexual relations at 16? Or does she mean the 'enlightened' Western world that has thrown Christianity out of the window? And since when did 'being in line with the rest of the world' constitute a criterion for the legality of an action?

Yours faithfully,

JAMES FLYNN

Salford