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The study of the '''history of [[homosexuality]]''' attempts to catalog evidence of [[homosexual behavior]] from its earliest occurrences to the present, with this manner of perversion being manifested shown in different sources from ancient times.

''{{Main article: [[|Homosexuality and biblical interpretation]]''}}

Homosexuality is overall revealed in the Bible to be an effect of idolatry,<ref>with the latter being manifest the mother of all sins: Ex. 20:2-5</ref>, and which may consist of formal or informal false gods.<ref>a false god being whatever is your ultimate object of affection or allegiance, or source of security</ref> (Is. 44:15-20; Jer. 2:27; Rm. 6:16; 1Jn. 2:16; 5:21)

In [[Romans 1]] the apostle Paul delineates stages of degeneration, with homoerotic desire and acts being a particular effect of making the God of creation, who uniquely created the women of the man and joined them in marriage, into an image of corruptible man. This type of this idolatry is yet seen to be taking place today by pro homosexual authors, such as Roman Catholic priest Daniel A. Helminiak<ref>pro homosexual priest Daniel Helminiak, Sex and the sacred, p. 192</ref> who assert that the incorruptible [[Jesus Christ]] engaged in homosexual relations. Such extreme blasphemous attempts are refuted by Derrick K. Olliff and Dewey H. Hodges</ref>[http://www.reformed.org/social/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/social/hodges_response_helminiak.html A Reformed Response to Daniel Helminiak's Gay Theology]</ref> and others.<ref>[http://www.robgagnon.net/BelovedDisciple.htm] by Robert A. J. Gagnon,]</ref><ref>Patrick Holding, Does John 21:20 Show That Jesus Was Gay?[http://www.tektonics.org/gk/gayjesus.htmlPatrick Holding, Does John 21:20 Show That Jesus Was Gay?]</ref>

Homosexual behavior was especially manifest in Rome and Greece at that time, but which was and is a historical constant among all peoples, in differing but deleterious forms, and with different degrees of [[moral degeneration ]] being realized. For the follower of the Bible therefore, homosexuality is not new, nor unexpected, but neither is it justified, rather it is unequivocally condemned, while God is revealed as giving man grace to resist and overcome sin. (Gn. 4:7; Ja. 1:12-15' 1Cor. 6:9-11)

*[T]urn your looks to the abominations, not less to be deplored, of another kind of spectacle…Men spectacle...Men are emasculated, and all the pride and vigor of their sex is effeminated in the disgrace of their enervated body; and he is more pleasing there who has most completely broken down the man into the woman. He grows into praise by virtue of his crime; and the more he is degraded, the more skillful he is considered to be. Such a one is looked upon--oh upon—oh shame!--and looked upon with pleasure…nor pleasure...nor is there wanting authority for the enticing abomination…that abomination...that Jupiter of theirs [is] not more supreme in dominion than in vice, inflamed with earthly love in the midst of his own thunders…now thunders...now breaking forth by the help of birds to violate the purity of boys. And now put the question: Can he who looks upon such things be healthy-minded or modest? Men imitate the gods whom they adore, and to such miserable beings their crimes become their religion. - Cyprian of Carthage, Letters 1:8 (A.D. 253).

“But we do not say so of that mixture that is contrary to nature, or of any unlawful practice; for such are enmity to God. For the sin of Sodom is contrary to nature, as is also that with brute beasts. But adultery and fornication are against the law; the one whereof is impiety, the other injustice, and, in a word, no other than a great sin. But neither sort of them is without its punishment in its own proper nature. For the practicers of one sort attempt the dissolution of the world, and endeavor to make the natural course of things to change for one that is unnatural; but those of the second son — the adulterers — are unjust by corrupting others’ marriages, and dividing into two what God hath made one, rendering the children suspected, and exposing the true husband to the snares of others. And fornication is the destruction of one’s one's own flesh, not being made use of for the procreation of children, but entirely for the sake of pleasure, which is a mark of incontinency, and not a sign of virtue. All these things are forbidden by the laws; for thus say the oracles: Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind. For such a one is accursed, and ye shall stone them with stones: they have wrought abomination.” - Methodius, bishop of Olympus and Patara (AD 260-312), Commentary on the sin of Sodom.

"[The pagans] were addicted to the love of boys, and one of their wise men made a law that pederasty…should not be allowed to slaves, as if it was an honorable thing; and they had houses for this purpose, in which it was openly practiced. And if all that was done among them was related, it would be seen that they openly outraged nature, and there was none to restrain them… As for their passion for boys, whom they called their 'paedica,' it is not fit to be named." - John Chrysostom, Homilies on Titus 5 (A.D. 390]).

"[Christians] abhor all unlawful mixtures, and that which is practiced by some contrary to nature, as wicked and impious." - [[Apostolic Constitutions ]] 6:11 (A.D. 400).

==Historical dataconcerning the history of homosexuality ==

It should be noted here that most of the research for the information referenced here comes through pro -homosexual writers, who sometimes interpret obscure or indefinite data as positively denoting homosexuality, while tending to render negative comments on homosexuality as being due to [[homophobia]]. And or as Boswell,<ref>Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe</ref> tend they may seek to contrive a history more usable to them,<ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9411/articles/darling.html Gay Marriage: Reimagining Church History Robin Darling Young]</ref> (which they are not alone in doing). Some assert that in some cases, pro-homosexual authors have extrapolated prevalent homosexuality out of little real evidence.<ref>http://homosexualityinancientgreece.wordpress.com/</ref> The inclusion of these sources is for reference purposes, and not as recommended reading. However, much clear data is provided which testifies to widespread some degree of acceptance of homoeroticism (mostly pederastic), concomitant with idolatry. Biblically, including this also included Israel at times when they forsook worship of "the living and true God" (1Thes. 1:9) of the Bible, who uniquely forbade such. In regard to this, a A primary source on the subject of history and homosexuality, pro homosexual author Dr. David E. Greenberg, noted that, other than the Jews, "none of the archaic civilizations prohibited homosexuality per se",<ref>Greenberg, "The Construction of Homosexuality" p. 124</ref> (though he himself imposed forced homosexuality into the story of [[David and Jonathan]]). ===Homosexuality in Greece=== The largest amount of material pertinent to the history of homosexuality is from Greece, from notable philosophers and writers such as Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, and pseudo-Lucian, to plays by Aristophanes, to Greek artwork and vases. James B. De Young notes that homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture. The main form of this was pederasty, a custom that seems to have been practiced mostly among the upper classes, in which an older man (the ''erastest'') would make a young free boy (the ''eromenos'') his sex partner, and become his mentor. This was regulated by the State as an institution. However, this practice was usually a supplement to marriage,<ref>Dover, K.J., Greek Homosexuality (Harvard University Press, 1989, as summarized in "Homosexuality," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, August 2002)</ref> and thus is seen as being done by bisexuals. The practice of pederasty is mentioned in Homer's ''Illiad'', and is evidenced to have existed at least 4500 years ago in ancient Egypt.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ZXAVf8m_HKgC&pg=PA322&lpg=PA322&dq=Plato%27s+Laws+636c&source=bl&ots=ZjVFYZcdwc&sig=qh8nqrP0-_GCl1p49MgogdYs7E8&hl=en&ei=0sUeSqOxIqbWlQfpnPjPBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=19 Homosexuality, By James B. DeYoung p. 322]</ref>

In the Amores (''the loves'') of Lucian, an Assyrian rhetorician (125 to approx. 180), which many think was written by another in a later period, Dynes and thus it is called, ''pseudo-Lucian'', extensive discourses are given on Donaldson also note that the subject of homosexual affections literary and relations. In Amores 10, Lycinus describes the Athenian character Callicratidas as one who ''was well provided with handsome slave-boys and all archaeological records of his servants were. pretty well beardless. They remained with him till Mediterranean societies have overall revealed that the down first appeared on their faces, but, once any growth cast a shadow on their cheeks, they would be sent away to be stewards and overseers ancient patterns of his properties at Athens.''<ref>PSEUDOsame-LUCIAN, AFFAIRS OF THE HEART, 10</ref> This man is set in contrast to the character Charicles who loves females, and who supports the cause of normal heterosexual passion, first most because of their ability to procreate. gender sexual behavior

However:did not, homosexual "orientation" is also indicated on for the most part , conform to the androphile model of Callicratidasmodern industrial societies — a model that involves pairs of adults, at least toward boys, as in Amores 20 he is said both considered to be reluctant to go to of the temple same gender, of Aphrodite because he was going roughly equal social status, and reciprocal and their behavior. Instead they generally adhered to see something femalegender-and-age differentiated patterns, while Charicles describes those who engage in homosexual sex as having "bought Egypt being a little pleasure at partial exception. The best known types are the cost male temple prostitution of great disgracethe near east and the institutionalized pederasty of Greece.'' Sternly reproving homosexuals he also states<ref>Wayne R. Dynes, ''With what blind insensibility have you engulfed your souls that you have missed the mark Stephen Donaldson Homosexuality in both directions, avoiding what you ought to pursue, and pursuing what you ought to avoid?the ancient world'' (22), p. 7</ref>

Charicles also laments those who attempted basic sex change operations through castration: ''The daring of some men has advanced so far ===Homosexuality in tyrannical violence as even to wreak sacrilege upon nature with the knife. By depriving males of their masculinity they have found wider ranges of pleasure. But those who become wretched and luckless in order to be boys for longer remain male no longer, being a perplexing riddle of dual gender, neither being kept for the functions to which they have been born nor yet having the thing into which they have been changed.'' (21) Greece===

For his part Callicratidas forwards an polemic that The largest amount of material pertinent to the history of homosexuality is used today from Greece, from notable philosophers and writers such as Plato, Xenophon, Plutarch, and pseudo-Lucian, to plays by homosexual apologistsAristophanes, to Greek artwork and vases. James B. De Young notes that homosexuality seems to have existed more widely among the ancient Greeks more than among any other ancient culture. The main form of this was not seen in early timespederasty, "for intercourse with women was necessary so a custom that our race might not utterly perish for lack of seed"seems to have been practiced mostly among the upper classes, in which an older man (35the ''erastest'') and postulates that doing away with martial relations would be make a good thing, if children could be hand another wayyoung free boy (the ''eromenos'') his sex partner, lamenting and become his mentor. This was regulated by the efforts women must go through State as an institution. However, this practice was usually a supplement to make themselves attractivemarriage,<ref>Dover, K. J., Greek Homosexuality (Harvard University Press, 1989, as summarized in "Homosexuality," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, August 2002)</ref> Yet he sees the efforts that a child must go through and thus is seen as making him an attractive object being done by bisexuals. The practice of homosexual affection for all menpederasty is mentioned in Homer's ''Illiad'', and is evidenced to have existed at least 4500 years ago in ancient Egypt. (38<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZXAVf8m_HKgC&pg=PA322&lpg=PA322&dq=Plato%27s+Laws+636c&source=bl&ots=ZjVFYZcdwc&sig=qh8nqrP0-46) _GCl1p49MgogdYs7E8&hl=en&ei=0sUeSqOxIqbWlQfpnPjPBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=19 Homosexuality, By James B. DeYoung p. 322]</ref>

The famous philosopher [[Plato]] (427 B.C. - 346 B.C.) around 348 B.C. describes and implies the widespread practice of homosexuality, and advocates laws to regulate it.<ref>Laws 636a-c; 835-c; 836a-e; 838b-839b; 840de; 841de</ref> One of the most explicit records of disapproval of homosexuality is found in Laws 636c, in which Plato, speaking through the character of the Athenian stranger, describes homosexual relations as an "enormity" or "crime" (tolmema), and explains that it derives from being enslaved to pleasure. He plainly rejects homosexual behavior as "unnatural" (para physin), as “When male unites with female for procreation the pleasure experienced is held to be due to nature, but contrary to nature when male mates with male or female with female”.<ref>http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/romans_malick.pdf David E. Malick, "The Condemnation of {{Main|Greek Homosexuality in Romans 1:26-27"]</ref><ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9406/opinion/opinion.html First Things, Peter L. Berger, Leadership U.]</ref> Homosexuality is also described regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments: ''Homosexuality is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engendered in their subjects, or powerful friendships or passionate love-all of which homosexuality is particularly apt to produce.''<ref>Quoted by John Boswell in "The Church and the Homosexual: An Historical Perspective" (1979).</ref><}}

In Plutarch's ''Dialogue on Love''<ref>Dialogue on Love 751C, E</ref>, he has Daphnaeus disparage "union contrary to nature with males" (he para physin homilia pros arrenas), as contrasted to "the love between men and women," which is characterized as "natural" (te physei). A few sentences later, Daphnaeus complains that those who "consort with males" willingly are guilty of "weakness and effeminacy," because "contrary to nature (para physin)," they "allow themselves ===Homosexuality in Plato's words 'to be covered and mounted like cattle'" (Dialogue on Love 751C, E). However, he also wrote that "The noble lover of beauty engages in love wherever he sees excellence and splendid natural endowment without regard for any difference in physiological detail"<ref>Plutarch, Dialogue on Love, 146.</ref>, and which many use to endorse homosexuality.Rome===

Plato's Symposium, a collection of ideas on love by several friends of Socrates, with the latter's thoughts at the end, acknowledges homosexuality as a condition. Aristophanes posits that there were three kinds of beings from the beginning, that of the male, the female - and a third androgynous - type of person. Zeus is said to have cut these humans in half so that they seek their other sexual counterpart, or in the case of composite being, their own sex. Aristophanes then describes the latter as being such as prefer their own gender, in which he includes lesbianism, and all of which the pagan philosopher commends.Young notes that in Symposium,<ref>182e-184b, 186b-e, 187c, 192b-c, 193c, 200a-201c-e</ref> Plato anticipates virtually every element in the modern discussion the homosexual condition. This reality stands in opposition to the premise which many pro-homosexual writers rely upon, in seeking to disallow the universal condemnation of homoeroticism in See also:'' [[Romans 1Roman Homosexuality|Roman homosexuality]].<ref>Young, Homosexuality, pp. 189-204</ref>  Additional sources in Plato's Symposium which evidence and advocate homosexuality in Greek culture, including some that speak of a predisposition towards it, include The Speech of Pausanias (181b-185c), The speech of Socrates (209c-d; 210e-211e). The Speech of Alcibiades (215a-222b). Selections from the Phaedrus (231c-240c) also give indications of how homosexuality was thought of in Greek philosophy.<ref>Young, Homosexuality, pp. 205-214</ref> Though the Greeks also practiced homosexual relations existed among equals, it was considered problematic, as while the predominate man was considered to be masculine, the one who played the female role would be seen as inferior.<ref>John Boardman et al, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Classical World, 1986, pp. 225-226.</ref> In Amores 24, Charicles invokes Plato as saying that "as long as his beard was not yet fully grown, he was beloved by all. But, after he had passed from boyhood to manhood, during the years when his hitherto immature intellect now had its full powers of reason, he was hated by all." This role more likely pertained to slaves, or male youths who were not yet citizens.  Attitudes toward homosexuality varied in Greece, as general strictures against same-sex eros existed in parts of Ionia, while in Elis and Boiotia (e.g., Thebes), it was approved of and sometimes celebrated.<ref>cf. Dover, 1989; Halperin, 1990</ref> ===Homosexuality in Rome===

===Homosexuality Edward Gibbon, stated in Egypt===  The [[Old Testament]] his “History of the Bible mentions Egypt as one of the nations exampling sins which Israel is to avoid, including homosexuality. (Lv. 18:3) While no legal texts are yet possessed, other stories testify of homosexual acts Decline and attitudes.  The earliest and longest version Fall of the Contendings of Horus and Seth (Greek transliterations, or Heru and Set from Egyptian), dated c. 1160 B.C., late Roman Empire” that marital faithfulness in the 20th Dynasty in the New KingdomRoman Empire was virtually unknown, with elements of religious mythology which are likely older, tells of Set, who is before manifested as heterosexual, perpetrating a homosexual act upon Horus. This is seen as shameful by Ruler Ennead. Seth is also said to have become pregnant by eating lettuce with the semen of Horus on it, placed there by his mother.<ref>The Contendings of Horus and Seth, by Khenmetaset and Marie Parsons</ref> An earlier version (est. 2,000 B.C.) is similar. from Kahun, from Griffith, F., Hieratic Papyri from Kahun and Gurob, 1908</ref> Historians see this indicating that to be anally penetrated “The dignity of marriage was looked upon as humiliating and shameful.<ref>Montserrat, 1996, p. 71; Bullough, p. 65.</ref>  The Egyptian Book of the Dead (c. 14.50 century B.C.) is the name given restored by Egyptologists to a collection of mortuary texts written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts and accompanying illustrations. The earliest record of Book of the Dead is dated from approx. 1650-1550 B.C., though it is thought that some of the spells originated in the Pyramid Texts carved more than 1000 years earlierChristians.”<ref>[httphttps://wwwbooks.touregypt.net/boda.htm] The Book of the Dead, An Introduction</ref><ref>[http://www.egyptologyonlinegoogle.com/book_of_the_dead.htm The book of the dead, EGYPTOLOGY ONLINE]</ref> In chapter 125 are two sets of “negative confessions”, in which the deceased was to testify before Osiris and fortybooks?id=Ib7KaA717U0C&pg=RA1-two other gods of his righteousness and worthiness of eternal life. In the first set of declarations (before Osiris) is the statement (as translated)PA478&lpg=RA1-PA478&dq=Gibbon, ''I have not penetrated the penetrater +dignity+of a penetrater''<ref>[Book of the Dead Chapter 125A http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/literature/religious/bd125a.html]</ref>, while in the second set (before the 42 judges) it is declared (as translated), ''I have committed no acts of impurity nor have I had sexual intercourse with a man.''<ref>[The Book of the Dead, chapter 125, by Richard Hooker http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/BOD125.HTM]</ref> Part of an incomplete text dating from approximately 2200 B.C. has been termed, ''Neferkare’s Affair with General Sisene.'' It tells of a common man discovering that King Neferkare (Pepi 2) +marriage+was making regular nightly visit to a man living without a wife,<ref>Egyptian Myth: A Very Short Introduction, +restored+by Geraldine Pinch</ref> and which may imply a homosexual affair as part of royal corruption+the+Christians.<ref>Egyptologist J%E2%80%9D+p. Gywn Griffths</ref>  The Teaching of Vizier Ptahhotep (c. 2200 B.C.), has a difficult to translate text (32) which may read, ''Do not copulate with a woman&source=bl&ots=vLEsgM9AST&sig=Rw9ZVE-boy,for You know that one will fight against the water upon her heart.''<ref>9MmInLQORPnl5NNQunxs&hl=en&ei=jbhGSrimC8b6tgeQ0NmMCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1 The Maxims history of Good Discourse, by vizier Ptahhotep</ref> Later, a homosexual liaison is described between the Governor of Egypt C. Vibius Maximus (103-107 A. D.) decline and a 17 year old ''still beardless...and handsome youth'' who ate and traveled with him rather than attending school and the gymnasium. His sexual relations with the politician were known, and the young man is described as exhibiting an attitude often seen in contemporary society today:  Once accustomed to this shame this handsome and rich young youth gave himself airs and became so impudent..in the presence fall of everyone, and laughed long and freely in the middle of the clientsRoman empire. Partly because of this conduct the Governor incurred ''damnatio memoriaem'', with his name being removed from public documents.<ref>R. Syme, C. Vibius Maximus, Prefect of Egypt, Historia 6 (1957), p. 184</ref><ref>After Paul left Corinth478, by Bruce W. WinterEdward Gibbon, p. 114John Bagnell Bury]</ref>

Art, poetry, historical and legal documents infer or attest to the practice of homosexuality in China (the type or degree of which is often somewhat dependent on the bias of the researcher, with most major works today being by by pro homosexual writers). The earliest references to such are from the period of the Hans Han Dynasty (Western: 202 B.C. to 9 A.D; Eastern: 25 to 22 A.D.) The ''Da-le-fu'' by Bo Xingjian (775-826) in an official ancient medical text ''History of the Former Hans Dynasty'' is seen by some to speak of homoeroticism, especially among emperors, in highly euphemistic language.

Male prostitutes were known to have their own god, Tcheou--WangTcheou—Wang.<ref>The Construction of Homosexuality, by David F. Greenberg, pp. 161-62</ref>

In the latter part of the 16th century Roman Catholic missionaries commented on the perverse homosexual practices they saw in China. In a book published in 1569, Dominican Gaspar da Cruz attributed the [[earthquakes]] which had recently shaken China (its most fatal earthquake in history was in 1556[http://www.drgeorgepc.com/EarthquakesChina.html]) to being due to their indifference to [[sodomy]]. Shortly after his arrival in 1583, noted Jesuit astronomer Matteo Ricci found that male [[prostitution]] was lawful and practiced openly:

In 1679 extensive legislation was written and confirmed in the Qing code of 1740, which made the abduction and rape of boys under twelve a capital crime, and penalized consensual sodomy with one hundred strokes of the heavy bamboo, and the wearing of the cangue (a flat wooden board) for one month. As in Biblical law, it appears that actually being caught in the act was required, and enforcement seems to have been rather selective. However, Kang Xi's own son and heir to the throne was found to be sexually involved with palace officials, and was executed. <ref>Homosexuality & Civilization, pp. 224-228,237-239, by Louis Crompton (pro homosexual)</ref>

Despite these reforms, later some Qing rulers are said to have engaged in homosexual relationships, and China saw a resurgence of homosexuality. Even during the reign of Kang Xi a contemporary writer wrote that "it is considered bad taste not to have singing boys around when inviting guests for dinner." Art began to abandoned its discrete nature in relation to sexual expression, and began to make the sexual act explicit.<ref> Passions of the Cut Sleeve, p. 146, by Bret Hinsch</ref>

Many of the first officers of state seemed to make no hesitation in publicly avowing [homosexuality]!"<ref<>Sir John Barrow. Travels in China. T. Cadell & W. Davics (London), 1804 Cited In Karlen, op. cit . p. 229</ref>

However, homoeroticism apparently was not a religious part of Chinese folk religion, as "the Chinese were shocked and indignant at the homoerotic Tibetan rites practiced at the court of <ref> Shun-Ti Heissig, the last Mongul emperor in the fourteenth century."<ref>1996; pp. 52-54, referenced by Greenberg, p. 161</ref> During the Chinese cultural revolution (1966–76), government considered homosexuality to be a social offense or a form of mental illness, and homosexuality is said to been punished more than in all previous times. In 1989 the "Chinese Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders", released by the Chinese Psychiatric Association, defined homosexuality as a "psychiatric disorder of sexuality", providing more tolerance toward this class of sin.<ref>Shanghai Star October 4, 2002</ref> ===Homosexuality in Japan=== Greenberg understands that during the feudal age in Japan, homosexuality flourished among military aristocracy, "with samurai sometimes fighting duels on behalf of their lovers",<ref>Greenberg, p 260</ref> and that Japanese Buddhism appears to have disregarded homosexuality.<ref>Greenberg, p. 261, note 101</ref>  [[Buddhist]] [[monks]] are said to not have allowed intercourse with women, though "male partners were not explicitly prohibited, and that many monks took youthful male lovers, a practice that was considered quite acceptable..." "Legal codes of the period do not even mention homosexuality." <ref>Greenberg, p. 261</ref> ===Homosexuality among the Celts=== [[Aristotle]] stated that the Celts esteemed homosexuality."<ref>Politics 2 9 7 Cited in Greenberg, p 111</ref> In addition, Diodorus Siculus wrote in the first century B.C., "The men are much keener on their own sex; they lie around on animal skins and enjoy themselves, with a lover on each side. Furthermore, this isn't looked down on, or regarded in any way disgraceful."<ref>Cited in Gerhard Herm. The Celts. St Martin's. 1977. p 58.</ref> ===Homosexuality among the America Indians===  Pre-Columbian Americas: In North America, the Spanish and French explorers and missionaries who visited the New World quickly became aware of widespread Indian transvestism (men dressing as women) and homosexuality. Writing in 1776, Father Charlevoix, a [[Jesuit]] [[priest]], found the Iroquois to have “an excess of effeminacy and lewdness. There are men unashamed to wear women’s clothing and to practice all the occupations of women, from which follows corruption that I cannot express. They pretend that its usage comes from their religion. These effeminates never marry and abandon themselves to the most infamous passions.” Greenberg reports that there was widespread male homosexuality among the Mayans in Central America: “A strong homosexual component pervades close friendships of young married Mayan men as well as bachelors in southern Mexico and among Guatemalan Indians.” Among the Aztecs, “Sodomy was virtually universal, involving even children as young as six. Cortez also found sodomy to be widespread among the Aztecs, and admonished them to give it up – along with human sacrifice and cannibalism. One of the Aztec gods, [[Xochipili]], was the patron of male homosexuality and male prostitution.”<ref>[http://vesler.blogspot.com/2006/04/why-judaism-rejected-homos_114634268752564895.html Why Judaism Rejected Homosexuality -- Part 2, referencing Greenberg]</ref>

Greenberg states that in Mesopotamiam Hammurabi, the author of the famous legal code bearing his name, had male lovers (Greenberg, p. &nbsp;126)

In addition, it is understood that Assyrian men prayed for divine blessing on homosexual love.<ref>[Reallexicon der Assyriologie p. 465</ref> This is seen to stand in contrast to the Bible, which nowhere offers sanction for homoeroticism, in contrast to its explicit Divine blessing on heterosexual relations in marriage. The Bible is also seen to separately forbid homosexual activity near the Temple, (Dt. 23:17,18) this likely being homosexual prostitutes, called ''dogs''.

Homosexuality in itself is thus nowhere condemned as [[licentiousness]], as immorality, as social disorder, or as transgressing any human or divine law. Anyone could practise it freely, just as anyone could visit a prostitute, provided it was done without violence and without compulsion, and preferably as far as taking the passive role was concerned, with specialists.'' <ref>Reallexicon der Assyriologie pp. 4, 467, 68</ref>

Among the Hittites, Law 189 states, ''If a man violates his daughter it is a capital crime. If a man violates his son, it is a capital crime''. However, the violation here may be more due to its incestuous nature, than the homosexual aspect.<ref> H. A. Hoffner, 'Incest, Sodomy, and Bestiality in the Ancient Near East' in (Orient and Occident: Essays in Honor of C. H. Gordon, Neukirchen, Neukirchener Verlag [1973]), 83</ref>

In contemporary times, according to sex researcher sex historian Arno Karlen , [[Alfred Kinsey]] (who was an [[Atheism|atheist]]) stated that "homosexuality was phenomenally rare among Orthodox Jews" (even though his flawed research otherwise exaggerated the number of homosexuals). ===Homosexuality in Egypt===  The [[Old Testament]] of the Bible mentions Egypt as one of the nations exampling sins which Israel is to avoid, including homosexuality. (Lv. 18:3) While no legal texts are yet possessed, other stories testify of homosexual acts and attitudes.  The earliest and longest version of the Contendings of Horus and Seth (Greek transliterations, or Heru and Set from Egyptian), dated c. 1160 B.C., late in the 20th Dynasty in the New Kingdom, with elements of religious mythology which are likely older, tells of Set, who is before manifested as heterosexual, perpetrating a homosexual act upon Horus. This is seen as shameful by Ruler Ennead. Seth is also said to have become pregnant by eating lettuce with the semen of Horus on it, placed there by his mother.<ref>The Contendings of Horus and Seth, by Khenmetaset and Marie Parsons</ref> An earlier version (est. 2,000 B.C.) is similar.<ref>from Kahun, from Griffith, F., Hieratic Papyri from Kahun and Gurob, 1908</ref> Historians see this indicating that to be anally penetrated was looked upon as humiliating and shameful.<ref>Montserrat, 1996, p. 71; Bullough, p. 65.</ref>  The Egyptian Book of the Dead (c. 14.50 century B.C.) is the name given by Egyptologists to a collection of mortuary texts written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts and accompanying illustrations. The earliest record of Book of the Dead is dated from approx. 1650-1550 B.C., though it is thought that some of the spells originated in the Pyramid Texts carved more than 1000 years earlier.<ref>[http://www.touregypt.net/boda.htm] The Book of the Dead, An Introduction</ref><ref>[http://www.egyptologyonline.com/book_of_the_dead.htm The book of the dead, EGYPTOLOGY ONLINE]</ref> In chapter 125 are two sets of “negative confessions”, in which the deceased was to testify before Osiris and forty-two other gods of his righteousness and worthiness of eternal life. In the first set of declarations (before Osiris) is the statement (as translated), ''I have not penetrated the penetrater of a penetrater'',<ref>[Book of the Dead Chapter 125A http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/literature/religious/bd125a.html]</ref> while in the second set (before the 42 judges) it is declared (as translated), ''I have committed no acts of impurity nor have I had sexual intercourse with a man.''<ref>[The Book of the Dead, chapter 125, by Richard Hooker http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/BOD125.HTM]</ref> Part of an incomplete text dating from approximately 2200 B.C. has been termed, ''Neferkare's Affair with General Sisene.'' It tells of a common man discovering that King Neferkare (Pepi 2) was making regular nightly visit to a man living without a wife,<ref>Egyptian Myth: A Very Short Introduction, by Geraldine Pinch</ref> and which may imply a homosexual affair as part of royal corruption.<ref>Egyptologist J. Gywn Griffths</ref>  The Teaching of Vizier Ptahhotep (c. 2200 B.C.), has a difficult to translate text (32) which may read, ''Do not copulate with a woman-boy,for You know that one will fight against the water upon her heart.''<ref>The Maxims of Good Discourse, by vizier Ptahhotep</ref> Later, a homosexual liaison is described between the Governor of Egypt C. Vibius Maximus (103-107 A. D.) and a 17 year old ''still beardless...and handsome youth'' who ate and traveled with him rather than attending school and the gymnasium. His sexual relations with the politician were known, and the young man is described as exhibiting an attitude often seen in contemporary society today:  Once accustomed to this shame this handsome and rich young youth gave himself airs and became so impudent..in the presence of everyone, and laughed long and freely in the middle of the clients. Partly because of this conduct the Governor incurred ''damnatio memoriaem'', with his name being removed from public documents.<ref>R. Syme, C. Vibius Maximus, Prefect of Egypt, Historia 6 (1957), p. 184</ref><ref>After Paul left Corinth, by Bruce W. Winter, p. 114</ref>

Louis Dupree, perhaps the West's leading scholar on Afghanistan, wrote in his 1973 book on Afghanistan chat male homosexuality remains common there. (Louis Dupree, Afghani- stan, Princeton University, 1973, p. &nbsp;198.)

===Homosexuality Khaled El-Rouayheb in Japan===''Before homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic world'', 1500-1800" states that "Arabic literature of the Ottoman period (1516-1798) is replete with causal and sometimes sympathetic references to homosexual love", most of it pederastic in content, such as between poets and young boys.

Greenberg understands that during the feudal age in JapanIn his ''Music from a Distant Drum'', homosexuality flourished among military aristocracy, "with samurai sometimes fighting duels on behalf of their lovers",<ref>Greenberg, p 260</ref> and Bernard Lewis writes that Japanese Buddhism appears to have disregarded homosexuality.<ref>Greenberg, p. 261, note 101</ref>

[[Buddhist]] [[monks]] are said to not have allowed intercourse with women, though "male partners were not explicitly prohibitedHomosexuality is condemned and forbidden by the holy law of Islam, but there are times and that many monks took youthful male loversplaces in Islamic history when the ban on homosexual love seems no stronger than the ban on adultery in, a practice that was considered quite acceptable..say, Renaissance Italy or seventeenth century France." "Legal codes Some [of the period do not even mention homosexuality." <ref>GreenbergArabic, pPersian and Turkish] poems are openly homosexual; some poets, in their collected poems, even have separate sections for love poems addressed to males and females. 261</ref>

[[Aristotle]] stated despite strong Shari disapproval, the sexual relations of a mature man with a subordinate youth were so readily accepted in middle class circles that there was little or no efforts to conceal their existence. The fashion entered poetry, especially the Celts esteemed homosexualityPersians."<ref>Politics 2 9 7 Cited  Records from European travelers attest to the prevalence such, with the content of some revealing the distinction in Greenbergcultural attitudes. One example is from Englishman Joseph Pitts, p 111</ref> In additiona sailor who was captured and sold into slavery at Algiers in 1678 but escaped fifteen years later. He later stated, Diodorus Siculus wrote  The horrible sin of Sodomy is so far from being punish'd among them, that it is part of their ordinary Discourse to boast of their detestable Actions of that kind. 'Tis common for Men there to fall in the first century Blove with Boys, as 'tis here in England to be in love with Women. The French traveler C.S. Sonnini, "after visiting Egypt between 1777 and 1780, similary noted,  The men are much keener on their own sex; they lie around on animal skins passion contrary to nature...the inconceivable appetite which dishonored the Greek and enjoy themselvesPersians of antiquity, with constitute the delight, or, to use a lover juster term, the infamy of the Egyptians. It is not for the women that that their amorous ditties are composed: it is not on each sidethem that tender caresses are lavished; far different objects inflame them. Furthermore,  Affirming this isn't looked down oncontrast, or regarded Muslim travelers who "rediscovered Europe" in any way disgracefulthe first half of the 1800s found it notable that the European men were ''not'' found courting or eulogizing male youth."<ref>Cited  Moroccan scholar Muhammad Al-Saffar, who visited Paris in Gerhard Herm1845–46, recorded,  Flirtation, romance, and courtship for them take place only with women, for they are not inclined to boys or young men. The CeltsRather, that is extremely disgraceful to them. St Martin Likewise, El-Rouayheb also writes that Egyptian scholar Rifa'sah Rafi' al-Tahtaw who was in Paris between 1826 and 1831, noted,  Amongst the laudable traits of their character, similar really to those of the Bedouin, is their not being inclined to toward loving male youths and eulogizing them in poetry, for this is something unmentionable for them and contrary to their nature and morals. 1977One of the positive aspects of their language and poetry is that it does not permit the saying of love poetry of someone of the same sex. p 58<ref>Before homosexuality in the Arab-Islamic world, 1500-1800,by Khaled El-Rouayheb, pp.1-3</ref>

Homosexuality was known to occur to certain degrees in [[England]]. [[Saint Boniface ]] wrote in 744 that the people of England "have been leading a shameful life, despising lawful marriages, committing adultery and lusting after the fashion of cutlic people of Sodom. "<ref>Peter Coleman. Christian Attitudes to Homosexuality, 1980, SPCK (London), p 131 Cited in Greenberg, p. 250</ref> Yet especially in latter times England is evidenced to possesses a healthy abhorrence of homosexuality, with both laws and the public attitude being contrary to it.<ref>Rictor Norton (Ed.), Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. Updated 31 May 2009</ref>

The Societies for Reformation of Manners was founded in 1690, and by 1701 there were about twenty such Societies. They purposed to clean up public vice, particularly prostitution. Eight or nine members of the society worked undercover to observe gay cruising areas and attract solicitation. From 1707 through 1709, one cleric, "Reverend Bray," directed several raids, in affiliation with Constables who were also members of the Societies. By their annual meeting in 1710 they were able to attest that "our streets have been very much cleansed from the lewd night-walkers and most detestable sodomites."<ref>Victor Norton, Ed., "The Tryal and Conviction of Several Reputed Sodomites, 1707", Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England: A Sourcebook. 1 December 1999, updated 15 June 2008</ref> Attitudes regarding homosexuality variedthroughout the history of England, depending on the its spiritual condition in England, and while sodomy between men remained unlawful until the 1930's1930s, increased tolerance toward homosexuality was seen in post [[World War 1]] The precursor to modern sexual revolution is understood by some to have begun among an intellectual class in England termed the ''Neo-Pagans'', whose lifestyle was one of worship of the body, freedom of sexual expression, nudism, etc.<ref>Tamagne</ref> This lifestyle was one which would later characterize the sexual revolution of the 60's 1960s in the West. As seen in Romans 1:25, referring to "those who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen", this resulted in a modern prevalence of [[homosexuality]] in the [[United States]] and England, with its resultant deleterious effects.

Lesbianism was termed ''lesbian passion'' by the Greeks, being derived from the name of the Greek island Lesbos, after its female poet Sappho wrote about love between women.<ref>http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Cities/Lesbos.html</ref> The term sapphism also came to describe traditional sex practices among women through the ages.<ref>Andre, 2003</ref> However, this is not seen as obtaining the same-sex social sanction as pederasty. Nor does Greek mythology offers legends of the goddesses which parallel the homosexual acts seen as having occurred between male Greek gods.

In Lucian's Amores 28, the Greek character Charicles states that it would be better for a women to invade the dominion of male wantonness (homosexuality) than for men to become effeminate, and also warns of lesbianism: ''If you concede homosexual love to males, you must in justice grant the same to females; you will have to sanction carnal intercourse between them; monstrous instruments of lust will have to be permitted, in order that their sexual congress may be carried out; that obscene vocable, tribad, which so rarely offends our ears--I blush to utter it--will become rampant, and Philænis will spread androgynous orgies throughout our harems.'' <ref>[httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=sclZnr2SUIgC&pg=PA113&lpg=PA113&dq=Amores+of+Lucian,+Charicles&source=bl&ots=wZNTllKdeA&sig=vh6J9B9uPzFXES6yaoyAYfwPGOg&hl=en&ei=LxYfStb2IsXMlQeZuqXFBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=25#PPA113,M1 After Paul left Corinth, by Bruce W. Winter]</ref>

[[Romans 1]] of the New Testament clearly refers to lesbianism, as ''even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature'', as a result of rejecting the creational revelation given them.

''When a man marries in the manner of a woman, a woman about to renounce men {(quum vir nubit in feminam viris porrecturam), what does he wish, when sex has lost all its significance; when the crime is one which it is not profitable to know; when Venus is changed to another form; when love is sought and not found? We order the statutes to arise, the laws to be armed with an avenging sword, that those infamous persons who are now, or who hereafter may be, guilty may be subjected to exquisite punishment.''

During the Roman Imperial period the Lex Julia de adulteris (originally of c. 17 B.C.) was expanded by legal commentators to include first offenses against boys, and possibly all male homosexual acts. Under Justinian, the Eastern Roman Emperor from 527 A.D. to his death, historical accounts in Procopius and Malalas indicate that there was punishment of some homosexuals. In addition, under Justinian's legislative activity there was the strict Institutes of the Corpus Juris Civilis (effective Dec 30, 533), which is understood by some to sum up the legal opinons:<ref>Paul Halsall, Justinian I: Novel 77 [538] and Novel 141 [544 CEAD]</ref>

NOVEL 77 [358 CEAD] (extract)

…since ...since certain men, seized by diabolical incitement practice among themselves the most disgraceful lusts, and act contrary to nature: we enjoin them to take to heart the fear of God and the judgment to come, and to abstain from suchlike diabolical and unlawful lusts, so that they may not be visited by the just wrath of God on account of these impious acts, with the result that cities perish with all their inhabitants. For we are taught by the Holy Scriptures that because of like impious conduct cities have indeed perish, together with all the men in them.<ref>[trans. in Derrick Sherwin Bailey, Homosexuality and the Western Christian Tradition, (London: Longmans, Green, 1955), 73-74]</ref>

NOVEL 141 [344 CEAD]

An notable interesting aspect in regards to the history of homosexuality is that it has been rare in a number of cultures or been absent in some cultures. Dr. Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead state regarding various cultures: "If [[homosexuality]] were significantly influenced by [[gene]]s, it would appear in every culture, but in twenty-nine of seventy-nine cultures surveyed by Ford and Beach in 1952, homosexuality was rare or absent."<ref>[http://www.mygenes.co.nz/download.htm My Genes Made Me Do it - a scientific look at sexual orientation by Dr Neil Whitehead and Briar Whitehead - Chapter 6]</ref>

The history of homosexuality in modern times is one which evidences a growth from that which is shameful to mainstream acceptance in the West. This change may be seen as a product of the [[sexual revolution]] beginning in the 1960's1960s, which saw widespread rebellion toward moral authority, and against prohibitions against illicit sex in particular. Gay and lesbian Homosexual rights groups had existed before and grown during that time, but the rebellion which marked that era was distinctly manifested by homosexuals on June 28, 1969 in the [[Stonewall Riots]] which occurred in Greenwich Village, injuring police and bystanders. This is seen as marking the beginning of the modern organizing of gay and lesbian groups, and the promotion of what [[conservatives]] term the [[homosexual agenda]]. Gay Democratic clubs began in every major city, and one fourth of all college campuses had gay and lesbian groups.<ref>(Shilts, 1993, ch.28</ref>. The [[American Psychiatric Association]] was pressured to removed homosexuality from its official listing of mental disorders, and to treat it as an optional lifestyle. It is contended by some that such changes were due to pressure from the homosexual lobby, which Nicholas Cummings, former president of the APA, states, "is very strong in the APA."<ref>http://www.narth.com/docs/study.html</ref><ref>[http://www.narth.com/docs/insiders.html Psychology Losing Scientific Credibility, Say APA Insiders]</ref>

Since Stonewall, the visibility of gays and lesbians has become an increasing aspect of American life, despite the fact that the [[homosexual lifestyle]] was the primary cause of the spread of [[AIDS]], which has resulted in the death of over a half million Americans, and many more world wideworldwide.<ref>[httphttps://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5521a1.htm Twenty-Five Years of HIV/AIDS --- United States, 1981--2006]</ref><ref>[http://www.avert.org/aroundworld.htm AIDS around the world]</ref> In addition to the decreased moral influence by Christians or others, and the increase in erotic sensuality overall, many credit effective homosexual public relations strategy for the increasing acceptance of homosexuality.<ref>[httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=cbfVg_1qhe0C&pg=PP1&lpg=PP1&dq=David+W.+Virtue+scots+college&source=bl&ots=aDW7a615Gn&sig=Y1cLsx5sCQTgUUDJ88b5AKPRkNg&hl=en&ei=8skISpP1AcGktgfi2PzsCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPR14,M1 Homosexuality, by F. Earle Fox, David W. Virtue]</ref>Instrumental in this strategy were Harvard trained marketing experts and social scientists Marshall Kirk (1957 - 2005) and Hunter Madsen, who advocated avoiding portraying gays as aggressive challengers, but as victims, while making those who opposed them as evil persecutors.<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/socialsciences/sellinghomosexuality.html http://www.article8.org/docs/gay_strategies/after_the_ball.htm </ref><ref>After the Ball: How America Will Conquer Its Fear and Hatred of Gays in the 90’s, p. 152-153 (1989, Doubleday/Bantam)</ref> The widespread use of the term [[homophobia]] against any who oppose homosexuality has been effective in the latter effort.

Various estimates are given for the percentage of homosexuals (though who sexually desire their same genders over the opposite). The early figure of 10% as based upon a report by Alfred E. Kinsey, though often quoted, is not generally considered accurate by profession researchers, due to serious flaws (and even criminal practices) in his studies.<ref>such as 25 percent of his information coming from present or former prison inmates, many of whom were sex offenders, while a additional 5 percent were male prostitutes: Kinsey, Sex and Fraud: The Indoctrination of a People, Judith A. Reisman, Ph.D. and Edward W. Eichel</ref> A more recent national study found that 1.51% of total U.S. population identified themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual.<ref>National study published in Laumann, et al., The Social Organization of Sex: Sexual Practices in the United States(1994), cited in Amicus Curiae in support of petitioners. Lawrence and Garner v. State of Texas, No. 02-102 (U.S. March 26, 2003), pg. 16.</ref> Various sources compiled by Thomas E.Schmidt resulted in a figure of 1.8% of the U.S. population being gay or lesbian.<ref>Straight & Narrow: Compassion & Clarity in the Homosexuality Debate, pg. 102-103. [(Original sources: P. Painton, "The Shrinking Ten Percent," Time, April 26, 1993, pp. 27-29; P. Rogers, "How Many Gays Are There?" Newsweek, February 15, 1993, pg. 46)</ref> With the promotion of homosexuality in schools and society, these figures are expected to rise.<ref>http://www.massresistance.org</ref>

As with Sodom and its region, (Jude 1:7) widespread fornication and its abominable homosexual form are biblically Biblically seen by traditional Christians as concomitant with “pride, fullness of bread and abundance of idleness, and selfishness. (Ezek. 16:49,50), and is a preclude to national travail and ultimate destruction, if such prevalence continued.<ref>[http://www.leaderu.com/common/nationsdie.html When Nations Die, by Kerby Anderson]</ref>  Historically, societies that have embraced homosexuality have perished, whereas those that have upheld traditional values have endured. For example, ancient Rome's decline and its eventual fall in A.D. 476 were due in no small part to a growing tolerance of homosexual acts beginning in the Late Republic period ending in 27 B.C. The prominent Italian historian Roberto De Mattei, deputy head of Italy's National Research Council, indicated the fall of Rome was due to a "contagion of homosexuality and effeminacy" that made the Roman Empire easy pickings for barbarian hordes.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/8438210/Fall-of-Roman-Empire-caused-by-contagion-of-homosexuality.html Fall of Roman Empire caused by 'contagion of homosexuality'], The Telegraph</ref>