Gay marriage: Britain, France in surprise contrast

[MNBrewer]

http://news.yahoo.com/gay-marriage-britain-france-surprise-contrast-173306059.html

LONDON (AP) — The French like to make fun of the British, joking about their repressed ways in matters of the heart. But when it came time to debate same-sex marriage, it was France that betrayed a deep conservative streak in sometimes violent protests — while the British showed themselves to be modern and tolerant.

With little fanfare or controversy, Britain announced Wednesday that Queen Elizabeth II — hardly a social radical — had signed into law a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in England and Wales. France has also legalized gay marriages, but only after a series of gigantic protests attracting families from the traditional heartland that revealed a deeply split society.

[joeybee12]

1. France is much more Catholic....

And the Catholic Church was very vocal in its bigoted opposition to equality.

[MNBrewer]

2. I'm tempted to put it down to that

But was Argentina as awful as France? Maybe France is more fully Catholic than Argentina is.

[joeybee12]

3. Thing is, marriage equality had overwhelming support in France...

But the minroity was very, very vocal...

[closeupready]

4. It is indeed quite a surprise to me.

The UK was ALWAYS behind the curve when it came to issues relating to sexual liberty and freedom, relative not just to France but most of the developed world.

I'm happy and sad at the same time - happy for GLBT people in the UK, but sad for those GLBT in France who obviously continue to live in a society yolked with antiquated ideas about human nature and what the nature of a family should be.

[tjwmason]

5. There has been a genuine tipping point in the U.K.

It has taken place right across the political spectrum as well, though a large number of Conservative M.P.s voted against the new act it was passed largely because the leadership of the Conservative Party wanted it. Had it been proposed under a Labour government, I suspect that there would have been more opposition (though I'm sure it would still have passed).

[pinto]

6. The rise in RW anti-immigrant, anti-gay sentiments in France is disturbing, to say the least.

Liberté, égalité, fraternité