TWENTY-three years ago would be the last time I wrote to the Echo – as a 17 year old thanking you for publishing a relatively unbiased piece about the lowering of the age of consent for gay people.

I write with similar praise of the article about equal marriage and the recent church wedding.

What differs after 23 years of innovation is the shameful homophobia left by readers online regarding this article.

I hope that in another 23 years, these people will be able to accept the criticism that history will place on them for their views.

Maybe I’ll write again then to praise the Echo for their nostalgic article entitled “Remember when people thought that homophobia was acceptable?”

MATTHEW, Pokesdown (full name and address supplied)