Scholar: Gay Marriage Existed in Ancient Rome

[Sliverofhope]

From John Boswell, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality:

"Many homosexual relationships were permanent and exclusive. Among the lower classes informal unions like that of Giton and Encolpius may have predominated, but marriages between males or between females were legal and familiar among the upper classes. Even under the Republic, as has been noted, Cicero regarded the younger Curio's relationship with another man as a marriage, and by the time of early Empire references to gay marriages are commonplace... Martial and Juvenal both mention public ceremonies involving the families, dowries, and legal niceties...

Nero married two men in succession, both in public ceremonies with the ritual appropriate to legal marriage. At least one of these unions was recognized by Greeks and Romans, and the spouse was accorded the honors of an empress."

From page 82. The book is chock full of such research that overturns a lot of misconceptions about homosexuality's history. It's a must read for foot soldiers in the gay marriage fight.

[Neshanic]

1. But, but...that's why they are not around anymore.

See? I can do a fundy/freeper imitation! Imagine you are sitting next to Jan Crouch, and the things you can think up. It's the power of the hair.

[Sliverofhope]

2. Boswell goes on to say

That tolerance of homosexuality and freedom are strongly correlated. By the time Rome started to fall, tolerance against homosexuals was waning. Fear not. It's all rebutted, eventually. I just can't post the whole book in one thread. Heh heh heh.

[Lars39]

4. LOL

"The power of the hair" !!!!! Thanks, I needed that laugh!
Welcome to DU, Neshanic!

[Rowdyboy]

3. Boswell has another book, "Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe"

It is a treasure trove of information and actual liturgies spoken during the same-sex ceremonies. Highly intriguing. He gives many detailed examples of ceremonies.

[kayell]

5. Here is a link about Boswell

that someone posted in another thread. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/index-bos.html

Very interesting. I'm going to have to see if my library has his books and catch up on some reading.