THEY say that laughter is the best medicine — it turns out it's also a pretty good form of defence in the face of extreme bigotry.

This isn't really a new discovery. You just have to look at comedians from minority groups through the decades.

Be they black, Asian, Irish, all of the above – they have all used humour to mock the truly shocking prejudice they faced.

And yes, while this might have been great entertainment, it also served a much higher purpose.

It not only made those behind the abuse, both outright and insidious, look extremely foolish, it also belittled what they had to say.

It took away the power of those who were prejudiced — and eventually they had none left at all.

It's not THAT long ago that hotels wouldn't allow blacks or the Irish.

And while it couldn't be denied that racism still exists — nothing like this would ever be allowed to happen, in this country at least, nowadays.

My own mum, born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, admitted she forced herself to lose her lovely Irish accent within months of moving from the Emerald Isle to its bigger English cousin because she was bullied so badly.

I know many other nationalities are still battling small-minded bigotry — but hopefully they too will discover the power of humour.

And one minority group currently having the last laugh is the gay community.

My best friend is gay, and I know the battles he's had to face.

First, growing up in a northern town — where he is now finally accepted but not without a very tough time over the years.

Then, the fight to marry his long-term partner — not only one of the most emotional weddings I've been too, but definitely the most fun — his acceptance at work (he is a director in a law firm) and now, well now, he's being blamed for the current floods sweeping the country.

If it was me, I'd be furious.

He, however, finds the comments by the frankly crackers UKIP councillor that gay people could be in any way responsible, hilarious.

And he's not alone. Huge parts of the gay community have come out in force — with laughter.

They've launched fake Twitter profiles, claiming to be the UKIP weather reports, written columns, blogs. You name it, they're mocking it.

This is absolutely not to say the floods themselves are funny — they're heartbreaking — but the blame game really is.

And once again, laughter has proved to be the best medicine — and a very good defensive weapon.

Maybe we should all try to do it more often.