The former hotelier stepped forward to give his views at an event in the Town House which celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history in the Highlands.

Mr MacLennan believes Inverness is crying out for a dedicated gay cafe or meeting place - particularly to help younger people - and is looking for premises to set one up in the city centre.

The event involved older members of the community detailing their personal experiences and challenges faced in their lives.

Organised by the Highland Rainbow Folk - a working group including Age Concern, Help the Aged and the Terence Higgins Trust - the event saw the launch of a booklet giving advice on how homosexuals hope to be treated by hospitals, care homes and health professionals.

Speaking before the event, Mr MacLennan said he had talked to gay people who were regular church goers, and were interested in attending, but dare not because they did want their respective congregations to know about their situation.

"Even in Inverness, there are a lot who wouldn't come to this," said Mr MacLennan.

"Some of them would like to but, because of the church, won't.

"But I've said to them that they are deceiving themselves and living a lie. Why not just be open and they could come and get support?"

Mr MacLennan, of High Street, Clachnaharry, described growing up in the Highlands and how he overcame hostility from other people about his homosexuality.

He knew from the age of 12 that he was attracted to other men and described how he would often use sarcasm and humour to deflect jibes about his sexuality.

"Being gay is more accepted now but there is still a long way to go," he said. "There used to be a stigma and you would get people saying 'Oh you're one of those gays or queers'.

Former hotelier Murdo MacLennan is urging younger people to gain confidence by using the support available. Iona Spence

"Then they would just walk off. But since those days I've seen a big difference and people are more friendly."

He cited the dismissive response he encountered from staff in a Inverness High Street shop when he requested a gay magazine as demonstrating that tackling the issue was an ongoing process.

"One girl in the shop looked at the other and sneered when I asked," he recalled.

Mr MacLennan, who was brought up on the west coast but retired to Inverness 13 years ago, said young people who were perhaps struggling with disclosing their sexuality had to be brave and gain confidence from the support network which was now in place for them.

"I have spoken to one or two younger ones who won't come out because of their parents," he said. "It's difficult but then I had my parents as well.

"I am coming up to my 80s. It's up to the young ones now. If they can't help themselves they are not helping me or the gay community."

Suzy Gentle, of Age Concern, described Mr MacLennan as a positive role model for younger members of the Highland gay community and said there had been a lot of support for the event from Highland Council, NHS Highland, care home providers and other agencies.

Ms Gentle said the booklet was created because the gay community was getting older and looking ahead to how they will be treated later in life in hospitals and care homes.

"A lot of them feel they are invisible and it's often people making assumptions that everybody is heterosexual," said Ms Gentle.

She added that some city churches had been receptive in listening to the issues facing the gay community.

h.ross@inverness-courier.co.uk

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