Liberal Europe nothing more than misconception

Thursday, November 19, 1998

Liberal Europe nothing more than misconception

HOMOSEXUALITY: Attitudes toward gays more accepting in U.S. than
in other nations

By Brian Miranda

I am responding to the article on "Gays question effects of
Shepard’s death" (News, Nov. 13). In the article, Chris Reintges, a
student from Holland, claimed he "comes from a ‘more liberated
society.’" And for him, "UCLA is like a time machine: how gay life
was like 15 years ago in Europe, closeted and in the background."
However, I find his comment extremely ignorant concerning Europe as
a "liberated society."

Currently, I am an Education Abroad Program (EAP) student in
Madrid, Spain. Knowing friends in UCLA who are gay and in talking
with Spaniards, I have found a discrepancy with Reintges’ claim
concerning European life. Granted, he comes from Holland, close to
Amsterdam and Scandinavian countries where gays live quite
comfortably; however the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France and
other Mediterranean countries remain quite conservative.

Discussing homosexuality with Spaniards is quite a complex
issue, as it is in California. In Spain, notwithstanding,
homosexuality is still seen as a vulgar act. One Spaniard, who is
openly gay, claimed that if two males were walking through the
streets of "the liberalized, European community of" Madrid,
consequences would arise.

Though incidents of violence and hate crimes are extremely low
in all of Spain (as well as the rest of Europe), two openly gay men
in Madrid would be scrutinized and definitely viewed as the epitome
of inappropriate morals. An incident like that might possibly lead
to a hate crime.

I cannot speak for homosexuals in California, but it is not
uncommon to be walking around the Beverly Center or the Century
City mall and encounter gay couples. Then again, there is always
the Santa Monica Boulevard strip that passes through West Hollywood
where gay life is as active as ever.

Thus, Reintges’ claim that Europe is a liberated society is
quite misleading. Perhaps he would like to discuss economic and
political issues concerning the European Union. However, to
generalize Europe, an immensely diverse region which includes many
conservative societies, is inaccurate and ignorant.

To me, Los Angeles can be considered a "liberated society" in
itself since it has attempted to be the most accurate example of an
American melting pot for the 21st century (this of course includes
acceptance of gays).

This is not to say we are not behind other societies, but we
have progressed further in recent times than many European
civilizations.Miranda is attending the Universidad de California
Facultad de Ciencias Politicas y Sociologia in Madrid, Spain.

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