In fact, she explains, she liked the way "Islam demands a closeness to God. Islam is simpler, more rigorous, and it's easier because it is explicit. I was looking for a framework; man needs rules and behavior to follow. Christianity did not give me the same reference points."
Could Church blessing of gay unions have anything to do with this?
No Christian church has ever blessed a gay union. Ever.
(There may be some churches that at one time long ago were Christian that did so, but these churches stopped being Christian before the idea of gay unions ever came up)
"In fact, she explains, she liked the way 'Islam demands a closeness to God. Islam is simpler, more rigorous, and it's easier because it is explicit. I was looking for a framework; man needs rules and behavior to follow. Christianity did not give me the same reference points.'
Could Church blessing of gay unions have anything to do with this?"
No.
She was born a Catholic in a Catholic country.
The Catholic Church doesn't bless gay unions.