A group of the nation's leading satirists confirmed this morning their belief that homosexuals are still 'inherently hilarious', in response to suggestions that merely trotting out a string of euphemisms and double-entendres might not qualify as proper satire.
"Come on now," insisted Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye. "Just look at the rich tapestry of language signifying 'homosexual' - 'arse bandit', 'uphill gardener', 'shirtlifter', 'chocolate speedway merchant' - you can't deny that they're all a real giggle. And, frankly, if they don't like it, they don't have to read it - we're not ramming it down their throats, after all."
Chris Morris, creator of the legendary Brass Eye series, added: "I think we've come a bit further than quick 'bender' jokes, to be quite honest. Mind you, he did say 'ramming it down their throats'! Chortle!"
Professional homosexual Stephen Fry, an incredibly successful writer whose novel "The Hippopotamus" was compared favourably with the work of Evelyn Waugh, made a brief statement to journalists on his return from a lecture tour of America. "This is just the sort of tired, depressing humour that should have gone out with Jim Davidson. Ooh! Get her, dear! You couldn't afford me, darling, Ooh, Matron!"
