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I am not saying this as a history major, but I think by learning more about the history of sexuality will in fact help understand ourselves (as in who we are in this modern world) better.

Homosexuality is actually a modern concept. The idea of just being attracted to members of your same sex didn’t exist in the Western world until the late 19th century with the appearance of a so-called science of sexology. It was an attempt to scientifically analysis human sexuality. People who study sexology tried to define and determine what is normal or abnormal sexuality. By trying to set the standard of human sexuality, it resulted in branding other sexual behaviors as abnormal. The aftermath was that homosexual activity was defined as something that is out of the norm. And then it got worsen to the point that people would consider it as a disease that required medical attention.

Anyway, I am only talking about how the idea of homosexuality finally received an official title and registered itself to become an identity of an individual. The very behavior itself of couse has existed throughout human history. Foremost, people prior to the 19th century did not go around labeling themselves as gay or straight. Men would engage in sexual relationship with other males throughout their lives and still had wives and rear children at the same time. Nobody would declare themselves as totally gay, because homosexuality was seen only as a hobby of oneself (or phases in one’s life).

Although attitude toward homosexuality varies in different time period, it wasn’t really considered to be something sinful. The ancient Greeks did it, men during the Renaissance did it~ No big deal~ Christian attitude toward homosexuality was never coherent, but the change of attitude in the Church had a lot to do with the Reformation and the Counter Reformation period (the disturbance of that time should be a hint).

Name: Jackie Tai
Pen Name: Itsuke
Age: 21
Location: New York City
Email: ethy_key
Personal Blog: Sketchbook