7/18/2017 LGBT through the Ages" by Jigour, Jennifer - USA TODAY, Vol.

, Vol. 142, Issue 2828, May 2014 | Online Research Library: Questia Reader

LGBT through the Ages

By Jigour, Jennifer USA TODAY, May 2014

LGBT through the Ages

Jigour, Jennifer, USA TODAY

IMAGINE WE ARE ON a journey through the ages--taken by ship. You will need to hang
on, as you may encounter things that will challenge your view of the world. Let us first
make port of call in Washington, D.C. The year is 1963. Do you see that huge crowd of
people marching to the Lincoln Memorial? They are following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Who is that by King's side? It is none other than Bayard Rustin. Yes, he was a man who
loved men, as well as a civil rights activist.

One of the most frustrating aspects of discussing the history and rights of LGBT (lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender) is that many people around the world, as well as certain
racial minorities in the U.S., strongly believe that homosexuality is a white Western
European import. That, however, is far from the truth. It is not so much that the world
has slipped into cultural dementia and forgotten that nontraditional forms of gender and
sexuality have existed in every culture and in every time, it is that our attitudes about
them have shifted.

While we set sail back to ancient times, heading towards Africa, let me remind you about
the current climate of certain countries there. For instance, the prime minister of Uganda
recently signed into law that gays and lesbians can be denounced and sent to jail.
Homosexuality is illegal. However, it was not always so. Transvestites in Zulu (southern
Africa) and Lugabara (Uganda) often had spirit cults where possessed males would dress
in women's clothing and recount homosexual dreams in a high-pitched voice. Among the
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7/18/2017 LGBT through the Ages" by Jigour, Jennifer - USA TODAY, Vol. 142, Issue 2828, May 2014 | Online Research Library: Questia Reader

Bara, they had a word for the cross-dressing male: sarombavey. These people were
accepted among the community. They even would be married to men. The arrangement
was a status symbol.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Let us sail on to ancient Greece. Alexander the Great, a well-known leader, had numerous
male lovers. Unlike many modern views, bisexuality and homosexuality in men was not a
sign of weakness. In ancient Greek and Roman societies, it was a sign of strength. It is
important to note that Alexander the Great had lots of power, and many people within
that society believed that bisexual and homosexual practices contributed to that power.

That power dynamic changed as the Roman Empire fell and Christianity took its place.
Previously, ancient mythology and religion had embraced same-sex desires and
transgender practices. This can be seen in Greek and Roman deities, including Zeus
(Jupiter) and Poseidon (Neptune). Both have stories about taking into their possession
beautiful male youths with whom they made passionate love. As the old beliefs fell, so did
old practices.

In the untouched native cultures of Central and South America, including the Mayans and
the Aztecs, crossdressing and homosexuality were accepted practices. Like the Greek and
Roman mythologies, they included these aspects in their beliefs. Xoxhiquetzal was the
Aztec goddess of spring and sexuality. Chun was a dwarfish nature spirit associated with
homosexuality in Mayan culture.

Even more impressive are the numerous deities in one of the world's oldest religions,
Hinduism. As we get off our ship in India and travel by foot to check out these deities, we
should review India's position on LGBT human rights. In 1861, while under British rule,
India introduced Section 377 in the penal code, which criminalized sexual activities that
were "against the order of nature." This act against nature means any deviation of
traditional forms of sex and gender. In 2009, the Delhi High Court overturned this

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7/18/2017 LGBT through the Ages" by Jigour, Jennifer - USA TODAY, Vol. 142, Issue 2828, May 2014 | Online Research Library: Questia Reader

section, stating that it violated Article 14 of the Indian constitution protecting equal
opportunity for every citizen before the law. However, in December 2013, the Supreme
Court set aside that decision and ruled homosexuality a criminal offense.

The scenery reveals rich jungles filled with many species. As we observe these creatures,
we would do well to ponder the meaning of "against the order of nature.

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Publication information: Article title: LGBT through the Ages. Contributors: Jigour, Jennifer - Author. Magazine title: USA TODAY. Volume: 142.
Issue: 2828 Publication date: May 2014. Page number: 50+. Society for the Advancement of Education. COPYRIGHT 2014 Gale Group.

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