What's it Like for Gays and Atheists in the UK?

[Rhondazvous]

We’re over here talking about this woman down in Kentucky who doesn’t want to grant marriage licenses to gays and I thought I’d see more of you, but I guess maybe some of you don’t think what goes on in the US has very little to do with you.

That made me wonder, what’s it like for gays and atheist across the pond. Here in the land of the fucking free people have to shed so much blood, sweat and tears just to earn the right to be treated like human beings.

I’m not surprised that it’s the Church at the forefront of the fight against human rights, after all, these same motherfuckers were heartbroken when forced to let my mother ride the front of the bus.

Are people free anywhere on this planet? Are Christians fighting everywhere to return to the days when they could burn people at the stake?

[CapnAwesome]

People find any reason to bash on the U.S. on these forums. States in the US legalized gay marriage long before the UK did.

[paulpablo]

We’re over here talking about this woman down in Kentucky who doesn’t want to grant marriage licenses to gays and I thought I’d see more of you, but I guess maybe some of you don’t think what goes on in the US has very little to do with you.

That made me wonder, what’s it like for gays and atheist across the pond. Here in the land of the fucking free people have to shed so much blood, sweat and tears just to earn the right to be treated like human beings.

I’m not surprised that it’s the Church at the forefront of the fight against human rights, after all, these same motherfuckers were heartbroken when forced to let my mother ride the front of the bus.  

Are people free anywhere on this planet? Are Christians fighting everywhere to return to the days when they could burn people at the stake?

Each part of the UK is different, in my area Islam would be a way bigger problem than Christianity for a gay person. 

 In other places around here there's African communities that are very old school Christian and I imagine they aren't too fond of gay marriage or gay people

But then gay people have probably always had some sort of negative treatment because they're in the minority in most populations of people, unless the location is a gay night club, or the gay village in Manchester, places like that. We do have gay pubs even in my little town and I think the average none religious person here doesn't care too much about sexuality.

[robvalue]

Everywhere I've lived in the UK, atheism has been a non-issue. I'm aware I'm extremely fortunate there!

I'm not too sure about the UK and gays to be honest. I've not witnessed any problems, but I feel less confidence saying it's not an issue.

[I_am_not_mafia]

I go through life in the UK assuming that everyone else is an atheist, or at least doesn't care much about religion.

I heard that less than 10% of the population are regular church going Christians here (ironically in a church I was infiltrating undercover). You would certainly be marking yourself out as different by displaying any form of faith.

It hasn't always been good for gay people in the UK but acceptance has come really fast. The last Conservative government (from the 80's to the mid 90's) picked on gay people but the latest one is picking on immigrants and disabled people instead.

That doesn't mean to say that violence doesn't happen, but that's more because we're British rather than anything else. We have strict gun and knife laws, we have a national health service and we don't have America's litigation culture so there's relatively little consequence to smacking someone in the face if you're happy to be smacked back.

[FreeTony]

In the UK religion is seen as a pretty unusual thing to talk about, and a private thing. I wouldn't have any fear talking about being an Atheist at work, though people would think you were a bit strange if you were an activist type. People generally think it's a bit weird to be religious but don't want to offend, hence the lack of talk about it


Gay people are pretty accepted, especially in the younger generations.

I'd say in general no one would bat an eyelid at you being an Atheist, but some sections of society ( mainly over 50/60s) still wouldn't approve of homosexuality.

[emjay]

It took me reading The God Delusion to see the very real discrimination faced by atheists in America in all walks of life and to be honest it did scare me and put me right off America as 'the land of the free'. Then, reading another book Homophobia: The State of Sexual Bigotry Today, by Martin Kantor MD painted a very similar picture of what homophobia was like in America.

In the UK I think Christianity does still have an influence in politics, particularly in the House of Lords, and Cameron does still make a point of saying he's a Christian, but in everyday life I can't think of any situation where someone would be discriminated against for being an atheist, and indeed I'd say it's the norm rather than the exception. It's certainly a non talking point and I'd say that even when there are Christians, they tend to be quite liberal.

With homophobia I'd say it's a bit different. I think there will always be homophobia wherever you are because IMO it's not caused by religion just amplified by it. So I've faced my fair share of homophobia in my life but except for in my own household, I wouldn't call it religiously motivated.

[abaris]

Can't speak for the UK, but overall, being gay or atheist only seems to be a problem in some eastern and southeastern parts of Europe.

Also, with the possible exemption of the above mentioned regions, you have to understand that religion doesn't come up half as much as a topic as it obviously does in the US. I find it interesting that especially the former communist block is most religious in Europe. Partly because of the culture of these countries, partly because it was kind of a forbidden fruit for decades, I guess. It's like they opened a time capsule in 1989. Probably also because they weren't touched by the sexual and cultural revolution of the late 60ies and early 70ies.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Religion is almost a non-issue. People generally find preachers or people who are outwardly religious (ie. Throwing it in your face) weird or crazy, hence there's generally a large sense if apathy towards anything 'faith' related.

Being gay, from my perspective in a big city, is also a non-issue. Sexuality isn't seen as much of a big thing here either, and rightly so, though there are some issues that need resolving on gay marriage and indeed the legalisation of non-religious weddings (such as humanist weddings) which still aren't recognised as legally binding in their own right.

[Rhondazvous]

People find any reason to bash on the U.S. on these forums. States in the US legalized gay marriage long before the UK did.

I did not mean for this to be a US vs. UK thread. I'm thinking globally because gays and atheists exist everywhere. It's a global thang.