Gays in America and in Europe

American gays may look longingly at Europe where many countries have instituted gay marriage and many more have created civil unions that are almost as good. Europe is much more secular than America. If gay marriage produces stable, productive, law-abiding citizens, why oppose it. Danish kids may less likely be raised by a married couple, but they are more likely married by both their parents. Europe is dissolving traditions that make homosexuality a problem. America is making great strides in a much more difficult project -- reconcile homosexuality with traditional structures and morality. The glue in Europe is ethnic. In America, where people are free from their ethnic roots, the glue is what a person believes and who they believe it with, in faith communities. This means social issues take center stage and homosexuality must work its way between civic equality and social tradition. It is a slow process. We're making great strides.