IT is sad to find the usually sensible Brian Derbyshire pandering to homophobia by suggesting that sex with a youth of 16 represents an act of paedophilia (BEN, August 14).

Any male having gay sex with a 16 or 17-year-old partner is no more a paedophile than he would be if sexually involved with a girl of that age.

What he is, however, is a criminal, since Mr Derbyshire is quite wrong to say that the age of consent has been reduced.

I point this out because of my concern for those gays aged 16 or 17 and their partners who may think that they now can have sex without risking prosecution.

Although it is not now disputed that the age of consent will be reduced, neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service have given any assurance that prosecutions have ceased.

Indeed, I am in touch with a Lancashire man who is awaiting sentence for a single private and consensual gay encounter with a 16-year-old to which he has pleaded guilty.

Whatever punishment is inflicted upon this man, he will be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register and will consequently be branded as a 'pervert' for at least five years after the behaviour which led to his prosecution is no longer an offence!

Allan Horsfall

President

Campaign for Homosexual Equality IT is sad to find the usually sensible Brian Derbyshire pandering to homophobia by suggesting that sex with a youth of 16 represents an act of paedophilia. (BEN, August 14)

Any male having gay sex with a 16 or 17-year-old partner is no more a paedophile than he would be if sexually involved with a girl of that age.

What he is, however, is a criminal, since Mr Derbyshire is quite wrong to say that the age of consent has been reduced.

I point this out because of my concern for those gays aged 16 or 17 and their partners who may think that they now can have sex without risking prosecution.

Although it is not now disputed that the age of consent will be reduced, neither the police nor the Crown Prosecution Service have given any assurance that prosecutions have ceased.

Indeed, I am in touch with a Lancashire man who is awaiting sentence for a single private and consensual gay encounter with a 16-year-old to which he has pleaded guilty.

Whatever punishment is inflicted upon this man, he will be required to sign the Sex Offenders Register and will consequently be branded as a 'pervert' for at least five years after the behaviour which led to his prosecution is no longer an offence!

Allan Horsfall

President

Campaign for Homosexual Equality