What is homosexuality? It refers to the sexual relations between individuals of the same gender. It can either be a romantic attraction between males or between females. Present-day societies have failed to acknowledge such relations as they have treated homosexuals with resentment and called them sinners. Commentators have ridiculed laws supporting homosexuality. As such, they have lived in fear of rejection and embraced fake lifestyles.
Homosexuals struggle with fighting their emotions often to impress others. Worse is when the family members of a gay man force him to marry a woman. Today, many people assume homosexuality came from the west. However, that might not be the case since there was possible evidence of homosexuality during ancient Africa. It is true to state that homosexuality is a thing that began before colonization.
It is only later in the 20th century that people started changing their perceptions about homosexuality. To date, some countries have legalized homosexuality, allowing gays freedom. This article focuses on why ancient Africa engaged in homosexuality and which communities embraced these relations.
Historical Figures Who Embraced Homosexuality
Though many condemn homosexuals, they argue that gayism originated from their African ancestors. History supports this as it predates some African figures who were gay. Gay is a term that applies to both men or women who had a sexual attraction towards each other. One of the most significant cases of homosexuality is from Ancient Egypt. Historians state that Nyankh-Khnum and Khnum – hotep might have been gays, considering they buried them in the same tomb. There were also paintings of both men facing each other and their noses touching each other. The nose on nose touching symbolized a kiss in ancient Egypt.
Despite all these speculations, Nyankh and Khnum had families and children. They lived in the palace where they served pharaoh Niuserre. However, many homosexual controversies have strengthened following various opinions regarding the two royal servants. Some scholars argue the paintings depicted homosexuality between two married men in ancient Egypt.
Meanwhile, other scholars argue that both Nyankh-Khnum and Knum-Hotep were twin brothers. In most cases, twins had a strangely close but strong relationship with each other. It was normal for both servants to take such portraits and be lain in the same grave.
Other examples also include:
The II Kabaka Mwanga of the Buganda Kingdom. Amid his reign, he regularly indulged in intercourse with his male servants.
In Ethiopia, homosexuality was rampant among the male Cushite cattle herders and even among the Amhara peasants. These groups engaged in sex with partners of the same gender. Also, in southern Ethiopia, the ashtime dressed as women and assumed female duties. They also had intimate relations with men.
Among the Meru community of Kenya, there is also evidence of homosexuality. Mugawe was a role for religious people in the Meru community. He dressed in women’s clothes and hairstyle. Mugawe would marry a man who would be their husband. There is also the Onek from Kikuyu, who was homosexuals.
Reasons for Homosexuality
Women and Women marriage for Childbearing
When a wealthy woman could not conceive in east African society, she hired a young surrogate mother. The latter would enter the family union, lie with her husband, and produce a child. The child would then belong to the original wife. The surrogate mother and the original wife would then take care of the child and the women’s marriage union.
Women and women marriage for Kingship reason
A rich woman married another woman to give birth to a male heir, especially if she was a childless widow. In most cases, these wealthy women would marry many wives and hire men to sleep with them. As a result, women ended up having large families. They would then distribute their wealth across the children.
Homosexually among Fringe religious cults
Some witch-doctors in the traditional African society who successfully cured people from serious diseases were homosexuals. They attributed their healing power to their fringe supernatural lifestyles. Therefore, the community members tolerated them rather than criticizing.
Though the women got in an institutionalized union, their act represented more of gender roles switching. The wealthy women abandoned their womanly roles as concubines and domestic workers and instead joined male-dominated fields. This evidence brings out the fact that the perceived homosexuality in ancient Africa was more about role-playing. For instance, Hatshepsut of Egypt. Though she was a queen, she demanded people address her as pharaoh. As a result, she established a powerful kingdom.
What Does Modern World Think About Homosexuality?
Not once or twice, but often homosexuals battle a lot. Especially when it comes to getting out of the closet. Most countries rebuke and condemn homosexuals and claim it is against the laws of life in the Bible. As much as the Bible embraces love as a fruit that everyone should embrace, homosexuals battle so much bitterness from people.
Just but an opinion, since love should be unconditional, the queer, homosexuals and normal people should not face judgment when it comes to love. Since no one chooses whom to love. And the fruit of love is among the most important virtues that every human should possess.
However, although some churches condemn homosexuality, they preach love. So, it is kind of a dilemmic situation. I mean if they preach love, then shouldn’t everyone have a fair chance when it comes to love without facing judgment? But all in all, people have a different opinion. It just depends on where one comes from. For instance, in most European countries, homosexuality is legal. Homosexuals even conduct church weddings. And when talking about homosexuals, I mean man to man relationships or woman-to-woman relationships.
Nonetheless, homosexuality in Africa and Muslim nations is prohibited. There is a predominant rejection of homosexual marriages and relationships in this region. For example, in countries like the middle east, falling in love with a person of the same sex is an abomination that is even punishable by death.
What Does Scientific Research Reveal About Homosexuality?
Often when questions about homosexuality arise, people debate whether homosexuality involves biological alterations or whether it is something that one develops from influence. The people stating that homosexual behaviors are inborn, tends to endorse equality by seeking legal protection. Meanwhile, those condemning it to consider it a crime. As such there is so much debate on homosexuality. However, is there a possibility that homosexuality has a thing to do with the alteration of genetic compositions?
According to research, a gay man is likely to have a gay brother while a lesbian, a gay sister when compared to a straight one. As such, this shows that there are chances the gay gene exists. For instance, scientific research showed the possibility of the existence of the Xq28 gene with gay characteristics. Some researchers have also revealed the possibility of the alcoholic gene which makes one an alcoholic. As such, chances are, the research might be true.
However, the genes don’t have full control of the behavior of organisms. But rather they control the release of amino acids which combine to form proteins. Therefore, the presence or absence of proteins in the body can influence things like mood. Moreover, environmental factors also affect sexual and romantic relationships. Therefore, a person’s upbringing plays a major role when it comes to things that influence their behavior. For instance, when one lives in an environment where the community embraces monogamy when they become adults, they tend to indulge in the same practice. That is despite knowing having more than one wife can be challenging. Likewise, if one grows in a homosexual friendly environment, the chances of them becoming homosexuals are high.
What Does The Church Think About Homosexuality?
There are very many distinct opinions when it comes to homosexuality matters in churches. The Roman Catholic and evangelical churches seem to share similar opinions regarding homosexuality. Some churches use the bible scriptures to condemn homosexuality. For instance, in the book of Leviticus 20:13.
“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death.”
Also, the letters of Saint Paul, which are in the Bible rebuke homosexuality and state that any man who indulges in homosexuality will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. However, some people argue that the letters of Paul were in relation to male prostitution other than homosexuality in general.
And Since God created love, then genuine love relations between homosexuals should not face rejection. Furthermore, some believe that since everyone is a child of God, those who turned out attracted to members of the same sex should not face condemnation.
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