Welcome to Europe, which isn't slithering back into the prejudice of the 1950s. Gay marriage will most likely be legally recognized throughout the EU in 5-7 years. It's legal in Belgium and the Netherlands. Spain will make it so most likely in the New Year. Ireland looks to do the same in the next 12 months, and even the UK will get there sooner rather than later, no matter what craven Rowan Williams might think.
Basically, it's getting to the position where homophobia is considered a litmus test that shows that a political party isn't fit to participate in mainstream EU politics. Only the wackos, like Austria's neofascist Freedom Party (led by a closeted leader, of course) bang on against lgbt equality.
While the UK might not have the flashiness of the US; in terms of everyday realities, it's actually better than the US. For one, no fears of losing health insurance and plenty of anti-discrimination laws. What you'll lose in latte culture, you'll gain in mundane liberties.
For an indication of current European sensibilities, here's something from today's UK Times:
THE Italian politician chosen as the EU’s justice and civil rights chief will be asked today by the European Parliament to stand aside even before taking up his post after causing outrage with his views on homosexuals and women. Rocco Buttiglione, a friend of the Pope, infuriated the Parliament when, in his confirmation hearing last week, he said: “I may think that homosexuality is a sin but this has no effect on politics, unless I say that homosexuality is a crime.”
When asked why he was opposed to gay marriages, Signor Buttiglione said that “the family exists to allow women to have children and be protected by their husbands”. He added that Europe’s low birth rate was because of women concentrating on their careers. He also called for a clampdown on immigration. Signor Buttiglione, a political ally of Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister, was due to become European Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security on November 1, giving him overall control of EU policy on civil rights, discrimination, racism, drug addiction and border control.
The European Parliament, which has to approve all of the commissioners, has drafted a letter which insists that Signor Buttiglioni be given another job. The letter will be voted on today by the Justice, Freedom and Security Committee and is supported by most parties. Josep Borrell, the President of the European Parliament, said: “I find these views shocking. I don’t think that at this moment in time we can have such people in charge of justice — especially justice. Perhaps if he were in charge of beetroots, it wouldn’t be so serious.”
