Anti-gay law – what took India so long?

India legalises gay sex | Tony Blair | Amazon prices | Boiling dishclothes | Shared spaces | Lucy Mangan

Indians in Kolkata celebrate the supreme court’s ruling on gay sex. ‘One might expect that it would have been overthrown long ago,’ writes Paul Brownsey.

“A toxic colonial legacy dies with India’s anti-gay law,” says your headline (Journal, September 7) above the article about the Indian supreme court’s declaration that the law against gay sex is unconstitutional. India has been independent for 71 years. If the law had really been contrary to Indian culture groaning under colonial imposition, one might expect it would have been overthrown long ago.

Paul Brownsey
Glasgow

• I see Mr Blair doubts whether Labour can be “taken back” (theguardian.com, 7 September). Presumably he means taken back from its members. Just goes to show.

Shaun Pye
Leeds

• Am I alone in detecting a certain irony in the fact that the book Magical Capitalism (Letters, 6 September) is available on Amazon for a mere £101. Admittedly, delivery in the UK is free, but could Mr Bezos have something to hide?

Rob Hutchinson
Newport, Isle of Wight

• Boil your dishcloth (6 September)? I’m 80. I’ve never boiled my dishcloth. No one in my house has ever caught a stomach bug. Are we getting things out of proportion?

Val Spouge
Braintree, Essex

• Shared spaces to meet others (Letters, 7 September) do not need a building. Be a group walker in the great outdoors. Socialise and exercise. What’s not to like?

Rod Warrington
Chester

• Lindy Hardcastle is welcome to adopt our daughter (Letters, 7 September) but she needn’t wait till we’ve gone.

Richard and Christine Mangan
London