I work in a pupil referral unit, mostly with disaffected boys. I am constantly accused of being gay but I counter this by simply saying that the term is not an insult. An assertion of the word’s positive value usually leaves the accuser dumbfounded.
I use the same technique with my tw sons (six and eight) who, as your article points out (Friday, January 19), use this term pejoratively.
Being an “out” heterosexual, married with two kids, does rather put me in a formidable position.
I’m glad to be called gay.
David Mottershead Barrow-in-Furness
