Laura's blog

An increasing number of French women find the distinction of title between married and single women annoying. In French, Madame is used when speaking to a married woman, while Mademoiselle is used for single women. The reason why some women are irritated by this is that you have to specify your marital status for the most random things, ranging from buying a train ticket online to opening a bank account or filling in official documents. Why women have to state their marital status when men don't have to bother? (Monsieur conviniently works for both married men and bachelors). There's a petition circulating on the web in order to abrogate the mandatory use of 'mademoiselle', which is regarded by a many as a sign that France is still very much a patriarcal society...

The following article describes how homosexuals in Greece have been prevented from joining the army and doing their military service.

This is from the online edition of the Nouvel Observateur

Grèce : les homosexuels interdits d'armée

NOUVELOBS.COM | 28.03.06 | 17:53

L'état-major annonce que les homosexuels n'ont plus le droit d'effectuer leur service national.