The European Commission gives in to religious fanatics and conservative homophobes and scraps plans for a union-wide directive aimed to protection gay people against discrimination. I’m not surprised. This is why pragmatism results in oppression—the idiots always win. From the EU Observer:

The European Commission has abandoned its plans to protect gays and lesbians against discrimination under pressure from Germany.

An anti-discrimination bill against all forms of discrimination on the grounds laid out in Article 13 of the Amsterdam Treaty had been announced as part of the commission’s work programme for 2008.

However, the European executive is now retreating to the safe grounds of focussing solely on disability protection.

The commission is afraid that more conservative member states will endanger the unanimity needed by member states.

I’m no friend of anti-discrimination laws per se, but it annoys me that these laws are not considered relevant when they apply to homosexuals. Every member state have signed the Amsterdam Treaty, so it should be respected by all.

Congratulations to the bigots, you won.