Other nations and peoples in ancient times were tolerant of homosexuality. Most cultures in ancient times did not have laws or rules against homosexuality. Many royal families had accepted members who were gay.
It's funny you should mention that. In the July 2008 issue of fugues, (a French language magazine for the Montreal gay community) there's an article by Richard Burnett (In English) in which he cites a study by Allan A. Tulchin called "Same-sex couples creating households in Old Regime France: The uses of the Affrerement" from the Sept 2007 issue of the Journal of Modern History in which he reviews evidence that gay civil unions existed in France some six centuries ago.
There used to be a legal contract called the Affrerement in Fance whereby 2 brothers could live together sharing "un pain, un vin et une bourse", one bread, one wine and one purse. This was for cases where two or more brothers inherited the family home on an equal basis from their parents could continue to live together just as they did when they were kids. However the author points out that many others also took advantage of this legal provision and that this arrangement also existed elsewhere in the Mediterranean region. As the article goes on to state that there is "...considerable evidence that the affrerements were being used to formalize same sex loving relationships...". Though it would be impossible to prove how many were actual same sex relationships "...and probably somewhat irrelevant to understanding their way of thinking. They loved each other and the community accepted that..."
Gay marriage or gay civil unions are so important to many because as this author puts it "While most of our hetrosexual peershad experienced, in their teens, socialization around courtship, dating and sexuality, many of us (homosexuals) had grown up closeted and fearful, our most precious and tender feelings rarely validated or reflected back to us by our families and communities" (Alan Downs; The Velvet Rage: Growing Up Gay In A Straight Man's World; as quoted in the article mentioned above). Many of us have been robbed of the chances straight people have. If during the "Dark Ages" communities in one of the most "Christian" nations in Europe can accept same sex loving relationships then why can't we.
If Fred Phelps is right in saying that God hates America because of gay's then he must also; by extention; have hated France. The French nation has seen it's up's and downs but IT STILL EXISTS, it's still a major world power, it's still prospours and proud. If god really hates nations because they tolerate gays then why is France still here and as strong as it's ever been DESPITE it's tolerance of gays?
I don't think the issue is that the right has an issue with their own sexuality. I think the issue is that the right is full of people who enjoy power, who enjoy lording over other people (and didn't the bible warn us against that?). I think these people think they have the right to tell everyone how to live and that this is a dangerous holdover from the days when the Catholic Church was all powerful, launching crusades, holy wars against other "christian" nations and promoting the Inquisition.
I am a great fan of the Star Wars expanded Universe of novels etc that continue the story of Luke, Leia, Han et al. In one of those novels I remember one character wondering how some people can so blighly accept Imperial occupation and another one responded "In every society there are always going to be those that wecome the Empire because they are already Imperial at heart". The bible did warn us that "By their fruits you'll recognize them" and that a corrupt heart will only produce corruption. The right wing survives because the people who most support it are already "Imperial at heart"