BBM was seen by over 1,4 million people in France, although there was no big hype (only the 'intelligent' papers and magazines, and radio stations, talked about it - all in very enthusiastic terms). But only those who had nothing against gays went to watch it, and many people I know just said "yeah, it was good. A bit too slow/long".
I don't know why France is seen as such a liberal country. The cliché of the French couple being composed of 3 persons is still alive (abroad). I guess that situation must have been rife at a time because of the unbearable machismo and sexism of French men (chasing other women because hey! that's what women are there for, and the wives getting fed up and deluding themselves that they might be happier with another male??).
France was one of the last European countries to grant women the right to vote, the right to contraception (then to FREE contraception), the right to abortion, the right to claim they had been raped, when they HAD been, without the Police laughing in their faces, the right to say they'd been raped by their husband and have it recognized as such (only 2-3 years ago).
On IMDb, some non-French Europeans were shocked that I could say France was still a homophobic country. Only one girl voiced her agreement: she was British and had just spent a year in France, and was amazed at how even STUDENTS could be so homophobic. She was right: I teach secondary (high school) and uni students, and we did have debates about same-sex couples/love this year, and the overwhelming majority are against gay marriage (with adoption of children).
Gays are ok in films here, especially American films, but 'NIMB'. The most popular French film picturing gays is "La Cage aux Folles", which figures screaming hysterical gays - the stereotypes straight males like to see, because... they are so different, aren't they.
I even asked my local LGBT for figures, and could see that more Americans (!!) are in favour of gay marriage with adoption than French people! I am sorry to tell you, Kelda, that the British are even worse than the French on that one...
Ok, I'll stop here, but could go on a while, when I get started on this I cannot stop!