DEREK Bryce (Letters, July 26) writes as a gay man of 57, about what he considers the lack of connection between the struggle for LGB equality and for trans equality. I am a gay man of 66, who has been involved in that struggle in Scotland for four decades.

My experience is that trans people have always been part of my community, and we have always campaigned together. I first began to meet people who were openly trans 40 years ago, when I started going to Edinburgh's Laughing Duck gay bar. I first campaigned alongside a trans activist when I was one of the organisers of the Lark in the Park event protesting the introduction of the anti-LGB section 28, in May 1988. What was perhaps at the time the most public such event ever in Scotland was compered throughout by trans activist Fay Presto. Later, in 1997, a group of us founded the Equality Network, an organisation which went on to work successfully for many of the changes Mr Bryce notes have happened. It was founded as an LGBT equality organisation, with LGBT people working together on LGB and T issues, throughout.

But it should not be necessary for me to note trans people's involvement in lesbian, gay and bisexual equality campaigns to justify support for trans equality. Opposition to both is about a wish to control what people should and should not do, based on their sex and gender. We're seeing now, in parts of the USA, how attacks on trans equality, apparently perceived by the right currently as an easy target, parallel attacks on women's and LGB equality, with moves to roll back all of our rights.

Equality is not a zero sum game: you don't have more of it available for one group of people by denying it to another group. In fact, quite the opposite: equality embodies the principle of fairness and non-discrimination for all, a principle that of course is fatally undermined if you claim it only for yourself and deny it to others. I hope it is not hubristic of me to say that, as a campaigner continuously since the 1980s, I am one of those "generations of gay men and lesbians who fought ... for our rights", mentioned by Mr Bryce. I am proud to have done it for LGB and trans equality, and alongside trans colleagues and friends.

Tim Hopkins, Edinburgh.

• IT seems a very odd statement made by AJ Clarence in his letter (July 24) regarding Catholic and non-denominational schools. He states that "schools, not just Catholic ones, have never supported the unscientific gender ideology".

I’m not sure how long ago your correspondent was a primary teacher, but it’s been widely publicised that teachers must validate and affirm children who want to change their gender identity and call them by the name that the child may choose and are not even obliged to tell the pupil’s parents. That is supporting gender ideology.

I am assuming that AJ Clarence is male, along with most other letter writers who prefer not to disclose their first name. But we can’t assume anything these days in the way of identity.

Irene Munro, Conon Bridge.

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Glasgow should have a litter czar

I WAS born and bred in Glasgow. I have worked in various parts of the city over many years. Glasgow belongs to me and many other citizens who take a great pride in our city.

For over 70 years I have witnessed the evolution of the city into a vibrant place for its residents and visitors alike. The beautiful old architecture has been complemented by many new modern buildings and the expenditure on public realm projects has, in the main, made our city safer and more pedestrian-friendly.

However, on a recent meander through the city centre and along the Clydeside to the first-class Riverside Museum, my friends and I were appalled at two things which are letting the appearance of our city down big time.

First and foremost, the proliferation of mindless and inane graffiti that covers buildings new and old, bridges new and old and in particular much of the expensive new materials used in the public realm project along our riverfront. I admire the well-crafted murals throughout the city but not the defacing of public and private property. Why is no one ever held accountable for this wanton vandalism?

Secondly the endless amount of litter that lies in our environs, for ever it seems, with no visible effort undertaken to remedy the situation. The new larger waste bins in the city centre are welcome but have now become an eyesore in their own right, covered in stickers and more graffiti.

I respectfully issue a plea to the city fathers, to appoint and make someone in authority responsible for addressing these two issues and make us all proud to belong to Glasgow again. Perhaps a high-profile public campaign might be a start.

I live in hope that someone in authority listens and cares as much about the image of Glasgow as I and many other good citizens do.

Gordon Fairbrother, Milngavie.

Get tough on bad drivers

WHAT do we do with "eejit" drivers, as Rebecca McQuillan referred to them in her article on Thursday ("If you drive anywhere in Scotland, you are sharing the road with eejits", The Herald, July 25) and her view is for the "eejit" driver to "volunteer" for a refresher driving course. Just what chance is there for a driver, who clearly thinks that other drivers are to blame, volunteering, and no doubt paying, for a course they obviously, in their view, don't need?

Yet, tucked at the bottom of page 11 in Friday's paper (July 26) is the alarming news that "Drink-drive deaths reach 13-year high". How long are we, as a society that professes to care about all human beings, prepared to tolerate this carnage? Compulsory re-training and re-testing, at their own expense, with or without a ban, before getting their licence back is the only answer for drivers who cause injury and/or death on our roads.

Patricia Fort, Glasgow.

What do we do about eejit drivers?What do we do about eejit drivers? (Image: Getty)

The future will be interesting

I SYMPATHISE with Amanda Baker (Letters, July 20). I too have Persistent Aversion To New Technologies Syndrome (PANTS).

At some point in history humans decided to go along with someone else's narrative. That there's an expert for this and an expert for that. Money, which is just an IOU, replaced bartering. We allowed strangers to gather our food and water. The recent incident involving Crowdstrike and only one error negatively affecting millions of people is just one example of where all this leads to.

Those who found history boring will find the future very exciting.

Geoff Moore, Alness.

• WHAT a joy to read Amanda Baker's letter regarding her PANTS syndrome. Could we make it official and make it a wonderful, positive, free (and freeing) organisation?

Jeanette Tracey, Bonnyrigg.