Homophobia

On TV today was a piece about Elton John's impending marriage to his boyfriend, and the legalisation of gay marriages in the UK. Which sparked off the following:
Mom: *shaking head* Kali kalam- look what's happening...
Me: What's wrong with that?
Mom: It's not normal.
Me: Normal lies in the eyes of the beholder, and would you please stop judging? And being so close minded?
Mom: *suspiciously, eyes narrowed* YOU don't have such tendencies, do you?
Me (and Dad): *go into fits of uncontrollable laughter*
Mom: *nose up in the air* There is no need to be amused.
Me: Seriously, why malign gays, what did they do to you?
Mom: It's wrong...
Mom: * in sudden alarm* ask your brother if there are 'such people' in
his college...I'm getting scared now.
Me&Dad: *ROTFLMAO* Ask him yourself...
One more worry for mom: Could BOTH her children be gay? *gasp*

However hilarious as the above conversation may be, it speaks volumes about the attitude people have about gays and trans-sexuals, even educated people like my mother. Seriously, why this homophobia. Our government refuses to change the law that renders homosexuality a punishable offence, forget about legalising same-sex marriages. And it's not just India, similar attitudes are prevalent in the west as well. Arnold Schwareznegger recently struck down a law that would legalise gay marriages in California. Australia has deemed them illegal. The major objection to same-sex unions is that they go against the 'traditional family unit'. So what do you expect gay people to do? Marry members of the opposite sex and be miserable??
Seriously, why all this homophobia, this prejudice? Clearly, we have a long way to go towards acceptance and accordance of equal status to gays.