Hey, Shelly - I like your style: "Is society really as accepting as it claims? Discuss"
Well, the short answer to that question is 'no' in my opinion. I think that there is a move towards acceptance but the pace is pretty slow. In a lot of ways society is "tolerant" of homosexuality and bisexuality but not quite "accepting". I think this is reflected in the way that some countries are introducing legislation around 'hate crimes' based on sexual orientation, civil partnerships or gay marriage and other measures designed to reduce discrimination and promote equality.
However, many of the issues that have been brought up on this thread already are less to do with homophobia but with heterosexism. Now, while homophobic comments and actions are much more widely condemed in society (i.e. the individual beliefs of the homophobe), heterosexist attitudes are very often overlooked. This is because society still promotes the ideas that heterosexuality is "the norm", that the nuclear family is something to be aspired to and celebrated, that in some way being gay or lesbian or bisexual is somehow less desirable. Advertising is a very good example as you so rarely see same-sex couples portrayed in mainstream media campaigns and where they are, it is usually for "shock value".
I remember having a conversation a few months ago where some friends were having a discussion about the adoption of kids by same-sex parents. One friend said she thought it was a good idea that kids who otherwise wouldn't have homes would be able to do so but that you wouldn't want to put teenagers into homes with gay adoptive parents of their own sex as she had read a study that it "would make it more likely that they would turn out gay". This really incensed me as her implication was "and if you make it more likely that someone will become gay then it's less appealing that if they turn out straight." Sadly, I think a lot of people still share this sentiment - they like gay men, lesbians and bisexuals, they understand that "it's not their fault" (
), but ultimately they still have this belief that "it would have been better for them if they had been born straight". I don't think my friend is homophobic, in many ways she is hugely accepting of all kinds of people, but she is still influenced in subtle ways (as are all of us to a greater or lesser degree) that will take a long time to overcome.
This is progress, there is hope, but it's baby steps.