I personally welcome reading that Nick King has had no problems within his party about being openly gay (Daily Echo, June 1) – it truly shows how much the Conservative Party has moved on this issue since the 1980s when it was very anti-gay, both nationally and locally.

It takes courage and strength to be openly gay in politics and Nick King certainly has both.

He was instrumental in getting the rainbow flag flying over Bournemouth council for Bourne Free and has championed Over the Rainbow Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgendered drop-in centre. He is a credit to his party.

I was very lucky when I was an openly gay councillor – my church, the Metropolitan Community Church, based in Hannington Road, Pokesdown, was very supportive – as were my parents, who also attend the same church.

David Laws, the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, comes from a Catholic background.

Sadly on the whole the Catholic church is not gay friendly and whilst no excuse, that may be why David Laws found it more difficult than either myself or Nick King to be open about his sexuality.

I would urge any gay Catholics to look up Quest, which supports gay Catholics, on the web, or find their nearest gay-friendly church at gaychurch.co.uk

Mike Carlile, Bennett Road, Charminster