" Gays tend to be treated with open contempt."

....well, some places, perhaps. There is one fine musician I know (and some of you do too) who came to events for years around our group, with only occasional musings as to why he never seemed to have female companions....then one year he arrived with his male companion...There were brief murmurings as it sunk in-- then it was off to the music, no questions asked. They have stopped by several times now, and it is just a minor point of interest to everyone.

That's the way it should be,,,