SIR – Helen Mead’s article ‘Adoption should be open to all’ (T&A, April 26) was most interesting – and I am sure it will have raised the hackles of many on the religious right.

I have no problem with same-sex couples raising children and find it bizarre that we put so much store by our definitions of sexuality. I have not been able to discover what colour love is or which sex and believe it doesn’t actually matter.

Some think that ‘man+woman+children’ is the so-called ‘gold standard’, yet this does not stop child abuse. Too many children are born without proper thought or planning and live miserable lives, with equally miserable parents.

That a same-sex couple want to give a child a good, loving home should be applauded, not criticised. They will have had to think long and hard about their ability to provide for a child, both in material and emotional terms.

If a child looking for a home had the choice between a traditional man and woman upbringing, and the parents were abusive, or a same-sex couple who were kind, warm and loving, I’m sure that child would be far happier with ‘dad and dad’or ‘mum and mum’ than the alternative.

Mrs C MacKay, Bailey Hills Road, Bingley