Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who is from Swansea, says it was hard enough growing up in Wales as a Conservative, "let alone being gay".

BBC: Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans 'didn't want to live lie'

Still, in finally reaching the presidency, Lula has defied many forecasts of failure: many pundits argued that a former metalworker, lacking secondary schooling let alone a university degree, was unelectable in a basically conservative country.

ECONOMIST: Brazil's presidential election

The airing of such views, let alone by senior members of the religious establishment, would once have provoked conservative rage.

ECONOMIST: Mixing sexes in Saudi Arabia

Even as Obama takes fire from liberal friends on the left, Warren is taking his share of criticism from conservative supporters on the right who can't believe he is even associating with Obama, let alone appearing at his inauguration.

CNN: Commentary: Respect Obama's choice of Rick Warren