Madam, - In her long and winding look at marriage Breda O'Brien (Opinion & Analysis, October 14th) places children at its heart.
If children are so central to marriage, should those past the menopause, infertile or uninterested in having children not marry? To deny same-sex couples the right to marry because together they will not create children would be as wrong as it would be to deny two people who are not going to have children for whatever reasons to marry.
On the other hand, one third of our children are born outside marriage - living proof that marriage and children don't always go hand in hand.
Marriage is a union between two people, whether there are children present or not. Same-sex couples are no different: they form unions just like opposite-sex couples do with and without children. Many gays and lesbian do, in fact, have children. They are as imperfect as parents as everyone else, no better and no worse.
Opposite-sex couples should not be seen as superior human beings just because they conform to the traditional idea of a union. Same-sex couples are equal and deserve to be treated equally. - Yours, etc,
KIRSI HANIFIN, Women and Equality Officer, The Labour Party, Ely Place, Dublin 2.
Madam, - Breda O'Brien might be reassured to reflect that there is no logical link between childrearing and marriage: many married couples have no children and many good parents happen not to be married. I must confess to being mystified by the conclusion of her argument: that the institution of marriage is best supported by preventing people marrying.
Instead of struggling with casuistical arguments about discrimination Breda O'Brien should perhaps be rejoicing that so many gay couples share her view that both marriage and child-rearing are valuable activities. Participation in these activities is difficult enough as it is. Surely a society that claims to value marriage and child-rearing should be concerned that everyone who wants to take on these responsibilities has an equal opportunity to do so. - Yours, etc,
CILLIAN McBRIDE, Kansas Avenue, Belfast 15.