Homosexuality and Heathenry

[David19]

Just something i've been wondering for a while, i've been interested in some Asatru paths and other Heathen things (like Vanatru, etc) and was wondering, how was homosexuality seen by ancient heathens and modern heathens. Was/is it supported or is it looked down on? Are there any gay gods or bisexual like in the Greek and Roman pantheon (e.g. Apollo), etc. I'm interested since i'm gay and i'd like to know, if it'd would be a problem since i've tried researching it but i get mixed responses.

Thanks :)

[Hærfest Leah]

You may want to read this page....http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/gayvik.htm

[heathenwolf]

not about who you choose to sleep with although you need to understand the German concept of the law of the folk. This is a powerful concept that determines that your actions should increase the welfare of the group or whole. Your family is the group that we are refering to.Now when you make an action if it dtriments your self or your family then it goes into a sort of record that follows you and your kith and kin forever.If you do something that is positive for the group or family then that action will also follow the kin around forever. Dropping a pebble in a lake makes small ripples but those ripples go on till they reach the land.Your actions are in the same frame as that pebble. If the pebble is dropped with hate and malice ,it carries on through the waves. If the pebble is dropped with caring and love this is also carried through the waves. If being homosexual hurts your loved ones then you have dropped a negative pebble into the water. If your loved ones are supportive then youve dropped a positive pebble into the water. I could go on forever but you get the message.

[BlueMoon13]

David,
There are groups/paths that have homosexuality as part of their core beliefs/practices, or simply where one may feel at ease. Witchvox has a list of sites and resources that may help you.

One thing to watch out for if you join a group or coven-in addition to all the usual stuff-find out what there rules about sexuality are, so there are no unpleasant surprises afterwards._inabox_ Trust me in this one-pm me for the gory details if you want.

Good luck_wiz_

[Darkdale]

I'm interested since i'm gay and i'd like to know, if it'd would be a problem since i've tried researching it but i get mixed responses.

Thanks :)


There is nothing in the lore, that I've read, that indicates homosexual behavior to be wrong or bad in anyway. However, I have read that if you showed feminine traits you were looked down upon (and that maybe somewhat true today, in most cultural areas), but homosexuality back then may have looked rather different than it does today. In the end, sexuality isn't what heathenism is about. Heathenism is about family, duty, community, self-reliance and honor. If these things interest you or call to you, then you're in the right place.

[Mjollnir]

. However, I have read that if you showed feminine traits you were looked down upon (and that maybe somewhat true today, in most cultural areas), but homosexuality back then may have looked rather different than it does today

It was also one of the ways a woman could divorce her husband, along with dressing like a woman, cant remember the exact Saga it was in right now but thats how...Gudrunn I believe...divorced her husband. I do know that there are references to homosexuality in the lore as being wrong, I will have to try to find them.

[Darkdale]

It was also one of the ways a woman could divorce her husband, along with dressing like a woman, cant remember the exact Saga it was in right now but thats how...Gudrunn I believe...divorced her husband. I do know that there are references to homosexuality in the lore as being wrong, I will have to try to find them.

As being wrong? Really? I'm trying to think back to where they were mentioned. Certainly exclusive homosexual behavior would have been frowed upon in Norse society because you needed to have kids and extend your family; but from a moral perspective, wrong?

[Mjollnir]

As being wrong? Really? I'm trying to think back to where they were mentioned. Certainly exclusive homosexual behavior would have been frowed upon in Norse society because you needed to have kids and extend your family; but from a moral perspective, wrong?


I could be wrong but for some reason that is sticking in my mind as what I read, gimme some time to look it up.

[Mjollnir]

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/gayvik.shtml

"The evidence of the sagas and laws shows that male homosexuality was regarded in two lights: there was nothing at all strange or shameful about a man having intercourse with another man if he was in the active or "manly" role, however the passive partner in homosexual intercourse was regarded with derision."


I knew I remembered something from it and I believe this was it, since I am not about to go pouring through all my books to try to find specific instances I tried it this way.

[Paracelsus]

The derisory term for the submissive partner being "ergi" - a term used to describe Odin's practice of (the generally female form of diviniation known as) seidr. There's a lot of stuff on this in Jenny Blain's excellent book, although needless to say, my copy, and thus the title, evading me at the moment.

[MoonRat]

There were a lot of homosexual heros in Greek legend, heck... Some people even did animals (not that you can equate homosexuality with zoophilia). However, I have experienced homophobia within Pagan circles, ironically from people who openly accused Christianity of being intolerent.

At the end of the day it's not the religion/spiritual path, it's the individual.

[cowdragon]

I would like to add also that you do not show any disrespect to your family by being homosexual; but they show great disrespect to you if they are intolerant of it!

I am too new to the Heathen faith to answer about Heathen beleifs on this. However, if there is something about it I would simply ignore it. I beleive what I want to beleive. I do what I want to do. No God or Goddess will tell me otherwise. That's why I love being a Heathen!:cheers:



The Cowdragon _wiz_

[Nantonos]

The derisory term for the submissive partner being "ergi" - a term used to describe Odin's practice of (the generally female form of diviniation known as) seidr. There's a lot of stuff on this in Jenny Blain's excellent book, although needless to say, my copy, and thus the title, evading me at the moment.

Blain, Jenny (2001) Nine Worlds of Seid Magic: Ecstacy and Neo-Shamanism in North-European Paganism. ISBN: 0415256518

[Hærfest Leah]

I would like to add also that you do not show any disrespect to your family by being homosexual; but they show great disrespect to you if they are intolerant of it!

I am too new to the Heathen faith to answer about Heathen beleifs on this. However, if there is something about it I would simply ignore it. I beleive what I want to beleive. I do what I want to do. No God or Goddess will tell me otherwise. That's why I love being a Heathen!:cheers:



The Cowdragon _wiz_

Touche! :viking:

[Eldred Grimm]

http://home.earthlink.net/~ekerilaz/heruli.html:viking:

[CzechWoods]

There were a lot of homosexual heros in Greek legend, heck... Some people even did animals (not that you can equate homosexuality with zoophilia). However, I have experienced homophobia within Pagan circles, ironically from people who openly accused Christianity of being intolerent.

At the end of the day it's not the religion/spiritual path, it's the individual.

i found out you are right it is about the individual.

but i tend to say many people caiming to be a pagan, are such without any questioning of themselves prior to choosing the path. i call them battery powered pagans, because once the battery dies, its just the narrow minded or close minded christian, muslim, jew or atheist or whatever they were before they had become "pagan"

[David19]

http://home.earthlink.net/~ekerilaz/heruli.html:viking:

I tried the link but i don't think it's working.

[Eldred Grimm]

copy and paste this in to adress block :viking:

http://home.earthlink.net/~ekerilaz/heruli.html

it is a very good articl on the Heruli a nomadic German tribe
that practiced Homosexualy

[David19]

Thanks for that site, it was very interesting. :)

[Erebos]

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/gayvik.shtml

"The evidence of the sagas and laws shows that male homosexuality was regarded in two lights: there was nothing at all strange or shameful about a man having intercourse with another man if he was in the active or "manly" role, however the passive partner in homosexual intercourse was regarded with derision."

It's interesting how similar that is to ancient Hellenic views on homosexuality. It was more about being passive and taking on a "womanly" role than the concept of two men having sex with each other. Of course, it always concerns men, as women are rarely prominent in ancient texts. They don't matter :lol: