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.