Introduction
Homosexuality is something that is discussed quite often in modern society. It's quite a controversial subject, with people on both sides of the argument becoming heated. One of the main arguments that those against homosexuality make is that it is unnatural and a modern invention. However, there is evidence to counter this throughout history. Homosexuality and all its variants are not a recent development; on the contrary, attraction to those of the same sex has existed since ancient times, and it appears that it was more accepted in the past than it has been for decades of modern times.
It's no secret that America was designed to reflect much of Ancient Greek and Roman culture, through architecture and through politics. Something it seems people pointedly ignore is that withing culture and mythology, the greco-roman cultures were very accepting of homosexuality. A notable example of this was the Greek myth of Apollo and his male lover, Hyacinthus. The story as told by Encyclopaedia Britannica goes as follows:
It's no secret that America was designed to reflect much of Ancient Greek and Roman culture, through architecture and through politics. Something it seems people pointedly ignore is that withing culture and mythology, the greco-roman cultures were very accepting of homosexuality. A notable example of this was the Greek myth of Apollo and his male lover, Hyacinthus. The story as told by Encyclopaedia Britannica goes as follows:
Hyacinthus, in Greek legend, a young man of Amyclae in Laconia. According to the usual version, his great beauty attracted the love of Apollo, who killed him accidentally while teaching him to throw the discus; others related that Zephyrus (or Boreas) out of jealousy deflected the discus so that it hit Hyacinthus on the head and killed him. Out of his blood there grew the flower called hyacinthos (perhaps a fritillary; not the modern hyacinth), the petals of which were marked with the mournful exclamation AI, AI (“Alas”).
The fact that they believed in and created myths for their god having a male lover is telling of what their culture believed as a whole. There is also evidence that homosexuality and its variants (more specifically, bisexuality) were widely accepted within many ancient Greek civilizations. Plato and other philosophers concluded that the majority of people have experienced attraction to both genders.
What does this have to do with US history, one might ask? Well, as stated previously, the US was based off ancient Greece in its policies. The idea of democracy was taken from Athens, as well as much of the architecture and style in America. Sadly, the tolerance of homosexuality hasn't transferred as directly to America. Though despite what people often assume, homosexuality wasn't actually as taboo as it is believed to have been through America's past. This page will discuss the history of homosexuality and the movements and ideas surrounding it.
What does this have to do with US history, one might ask? Well, as stated previously, the US was based off ancient Greece in its policies. The idea of democracy was taken from Athens, as well as much of the architecture and style in America. Sadly, the tolerance of homosexuality hasn't transferred as directly to America. Though despite what people often assume, homosexuality wasn't actually as taboo as it is believed to have been through America's past. This page will discuss the history of homosexuality and the movements and ideas surrounding it.