Thu 08 Aug 2003Lesbian and gay festival opens in Galway tonightThe Pope's recent criticism of homosexuality amounts to justification of violence and homophobia, the organiser of the State's longest running lesbian and gay pride festival has claimed.Ms Nuala Ward, organiser of the Bród Ireland festival in Galway, said the Pope's comments were "very hurtful" and had caused a lot of anger among Catholics and non-Catholics.