“Well said Mosschops - and thank you indeed for raising and reminding us of what else goes on in our little town. Agreeing wholeheartedly with you there.

As for the Old Soldier - am sorry to say that you missed the whole point of my comment.

Am gay - get over it!
I dont care anymore what people think - I have the Law of the land on my side now. That alone is a wonderful realisation of how things have changed within my lifetime.

Here's looking forward to a fantastic event with pride. Can't thank Matt and the team enough for what they are doing for the community.

Say what you like - you will hear no more from me on this - am too busy getting ready to enjoy Torbay's inaugural Pride.

A fun time for all.”

“Well, I can't believe people are still having a go at gays. People are killing each other, starving, the bay (and other towns) is full or druggies, murderers and other criminals and scroungers and so called 'noirmal people' beating the daylights out of each other, and there's little respect for anybody these days, and all some people can be worried about is a few luvvies waving a rainbow flag and having a little party. Come if you want to, don't bother if you don't, but why the discussion. And I am not confusing Bournemouth with Brighton, it also has a gay pride, this weekend in fact! So I hope you Bournemouth folk have a great time.”

“Yes, Paul, that's right I'm old so my values are outdated and I have been brainwashed by the Law of a civilised, decent society but if I'm so gullible why do I refuse to be brainwashed by a vocal minority who would presume to tell me that I must not only tolerate perversion but that I must respect it too! I do find that I cannot take homosexual men seriously as equals because they have opted out as you admit of mainstream society and the many responsibilities all that brings.”

“Interesting. "Gay Pride" is a self-limiting concept. The more successful it is, the more accepting of homosexuality people become, and the more anachonistic the whole "Gay Pride Concept" becomes. Why should we label a person by their sexual preference? Should we have "Older women pride", "Rubberwear Pride", "Beat-me-with-a-copy-of-The-Guardian pride"? I'm more interested in people, not what they do in bed for fun. I'm sure that many of "Old Soldier's generation were gay, but I don't really need to know that - I just need to know that they were brave and "did good."”

“Funny, I TOLERATE bigots too but don't agree with their life. Poor Old Soldier obviously hasn't discovered the gay village in Bournemouth. Thanks for single handedly winning world war two for us by the way.”

“Ah well now, Old Soldier, how things have changed with reference to the Armed Forces!

I served 15 years in the Royal Air Force. During all that time I had to keep my sexual preference very quiet as yes, it was illegal in those days. An automatic custodial sentence followed up by a Dishonourable Discharge.

Now Gays are welcomed in the Armed Forces. It is fantastic to see serving members on Gaydar, and wait for it - yes their very own gay site called Proud2serve.

The trouble with us 'oldies', is that we tend to have been brainwashed - by the way in which we were brought up, entangled with the then Law of the land and its teachings.

We gays don't ask or expect anyone to tolerate our way of life. Just to accept that we exist - and are here to stay.

Gays don't opt out of normal society. We never opted in!”

“Interestingly one of the organisers of the pride gave me a flier the other week and explained I didnt have to be gay to go to any of the events, almost as though I needed some kind of explanation as to what a gay pride event is. It was rather awkward that he did this in the presence of my young child who then demanded an explanation of what it was all about. He had an interesting take on it " it was better to be gay than to love a girl as it meant you could have lots of big parties" maybe then we dont need to be finding a reason for why people are gay but just accept it is something to do with an obsession for jelly ice cream and balloons started by over zealous parents during childhood.”

“I think Mr Mosschops is confusing Bournemouth with Brighton and as I spent nearly 40 years living in Torbay I would hope I that I may express an opinion on what is happening there. If he had served in the Armed Forces he would know that it is a Court Martial offence to indulge in ANY form of homosexual practice whatsoever. Also if Mr Mosschops doesn't know what is natural or normal then I do and being gay is not natural or normal and never has been otherwise most of us wouldn't be here. As I have said, I live and let live, I TOLERATE the small minority of people who choose the "gay" lifestyle but don't ask me to respect them for opting out of normal society.”

“Oh please! I am getting so bored with this argument now. Firstly, there is no march, it is a series of small events, so get over yourselves. Observer, you don't live in the bay anyway and old soldier, you live in one of the gayest towns in the country, so i suggest you concentrate your efforts on what's going on in your own town. As for the rest of you, you don't have to go to any events, so what's the problem? Besides, many gay people have served in the army and fought for their country too. Why can't people just shut up and live and let live. Hope gay pride is a huge success for Torbay and we get loads of people spending money here! We live in a free country where people can express themselves how they like, providing it's within the law. Besides, what is normal or natural. We live in a technological age, where we sit typing stuff into pcs, watch digital television, use mobile phones, drive cars and buy stuff from supermarkets. If we were living how nature intended, there would be none of this and we would be living in caves.”

“Old Soldier, Well said sir, respect should be earned not a commodity to be demanded by the like of Peter Tatchell and his camp followers!”