I Welcome Coun Williams' idea to identify Brighton's role as the leading gay city in the country.

There are dozens of gay-owned businesses in this area, probably the biggest concentration anywhere in the country, if not in Europe, and it is only right we celebrate this fact.

In fact, this area is already referred to as the "gay village", much as Canal Street in Manchester or Castro in San Francisco is.

Brighton has never been very good at hiding its light under a bushel and we should not start now.

I am surprised there are still some people who can't get it that the gay village, which has been a long time in the making, has arrived and is here to stay.

Let's make it ready for Pride 2007 and welcome the world.

-Nimrod Ping, Regency Square, Brighton