Fighting homophobia - What fuels this hatred?

The European Parliament yesterday endorsed a report calling on the EU to extend legislation that prevents discrimination against people based on sex, disability or ethnicity to cover a person's sexual orientation.

That they did so just days before the winter Olympics open in Sochi, where Russian officials insist there are no homosexuals, is significant.

Ulrike Lunacek, the Dutch Green MEP who initiated the report, said it would put the issue firmly on the agenda of the next European Commission, which will be formed after EU elections in May, and has the power to initiate legislation.

It does seem strange that at a point when it is recognised that someone’s sexuality is as random as the colour of their eyes that these battles are still being fought. This points to a visceral, irrational hatred that we have yet to confront, much less overcome.