I. On homophobia and other issues...

This is how a student from Cyprus decided to protest. At first it seems paradoxical, contradictory, even shocking, I'd say...
But then again, what a fabulous idea!


From Bruce @ «Not so different»


i) "Throughout western and central Europe, without a politically active and potent Church to turn homophobia into doctrine and then into law, the way is open for reason to prevail and for gay people to be able to claim their rights."

It's happening already, slowly but steadily, in Spain and, in a lesser extent, in Portugal. The Penal Code is about to be revised, and more severe penalties have been added in cases of sexual hatred, homophobia, etc. I can only hope this new Code will be approved by National Assembly without the usual tricks from right‑wing hypocrites. And more I won't say for glass roofs are all over…

ii) "Even if a European gay man manages to move away [from his home town] to a different city, he is still expected to, and almost always does maintain very close contact with his family, even if they are inveterate homophobes. This situation is most extreme in Italy, where a man’s ties to his mother are legendary, but it is even true in the northern countries. It is, therefore, very difficult for a European gay man to separate emotionally from a family that refuses to accept his sexual orientation."

I believe this situation is gradually changing, though very, very slowly indeed. The Mamma character is overwhelming in Southern Europe. And this seems still to be undisputable…

iii) "Contributing to this problem is the general physical immobility of European society. Most Europeans grow up, are educated, work, and die in or very near the city where they were born. Also, unlike more recent American society, changing jobs too often is seen, in Europe as a sign of unreliability, disloyalty, and general instability."

This is perhaps the problem's touchstone as I see it. I am a «good» example of both geographical immobility and unchanged job (though I've recently tried to reverse the situation, but it's not easy at all.) There are still far too many hindrances along the way.

iv) "If personal blog sites do exist among gay Europeans (…), I would assume that they would be used primarily by very young people."

This is my opinion as well. Most of Portuguese overtly gay bloggers (as far as I could assess myself the situation up till now) are young people indeed attending University.

v) "All these factors considered, therefore, I would say that it is probably easier to be gay in the US, especially in a city, than it is in Europe. Despite much firmer legal status and protection, and despite more or less the same degree of acceptance by the straight community, European gay men have a somewhat more difficult time integrating their sexual identity into their everyday lives than their American brothers do."

… As I would have most certainly not said it better, here is the quote of Bruce's latest article (not post!) on these candent matters. Please, do read it at «Not so different»! (Click here or at my blogroll on Bruce.)

… And don't forget it, dear blogger friends! Your opinions do matter! And I would like very much to hear them!