Well what can I say? We, as gay men and lesbians, are surely becoming more equal by the years, but equality has a price too! For example, even if you break the law, you are punished just like everyone else, then you are still treated equal, which is a good thing (‘ACT grants conjugal visits’, sxnews.com.au, June 23).

My first relationship, which lasted from the time I was 16 to 21, was abusive (‘More support for domestic violence victims’, June 25). My boyfriend isolated me from my friends and family, ridiculed me constantly, controlled my money against my will, shouted and threw things at me, and on a couple of occasions hit me.

Reading the work of David McAuley at the Hope for Cambodian Children Centre really makes you think twice about what we have in Australia (‘Changing lives’, June 25).