Hungarians test eastern Europe's gay taboo

"I am Gabor Szetey. A faithful Hungarian-European. Citizen, public official, member of the government. And gay."

Of all the arenas in which a senior government politician could come out, Szetey's choice -- two days before a Gay Pride march earlier this month in post-communist eastern Europe -- was one of the most defiant.

Hungary's Secretary of State for Human Resources risked hostility because he wanted to highlight persistent intolerance, not just of gay people, but also of other minorities, in eastern Europe.