Yes, I was wondering if Sylvia was offering more than an impression - such as social science data; you seem to have answered my question in the negative.

As far as the parallel with divorce and remarriage is concerned, both that and the gay issues are occasions where the apparently clear teaching of the bible is ignored by the proponents of a more permissive attitude. On the issue of divorce the teaching is remarkably unsubtle:

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (I Cor 7)

Note that this issue is about remarriage; your muddying the waters by references to violent husbands is unhelpful - in such a situation IMHO separation is the way to deal with it - but with no remarriage.

But my point remains - in both areas there is an unwillingness to live by the bible's standards. In an ideal world the approach of the catholic church in treating such continuing relationships as grounds for excommunication would be sustained rather than laughed off; instead we adopt the way that sets what Western culture deems most important - self fulfilment, relationships, the happiness of the partners - as the measure to the detriment of obedience to God's commands. Always an attractive option...