STRENGTH AND PRIDE:
REAL REPRESENTATIONS OF
MALE HOMOSEXUALITY
FROM THE ANCIENT WORLD
Today's society - well, fragments of it - is growing more accepting of homosexuality and gay relationships. However, this positive change doesn't come without a few flaws. For one, same-sex relationships between women are much more acknowledged and accepted than gay relationships between two men. As if that does not give the gay male community enough of a disadvantage, society is also falling terribly short on the proper, realistic representation of gay men. It is more common for the media to portray the openly gay man as the straight woman's companion and shopping partner, than to show a very masculine, dominant gay male. To much of society, the masculine gay male is a fairytale, only occurring once every blue moon if at all. But the reality is that gay men are only made to feel less like men in today's world. In the ancient world, it was a much different story that showcased homosexuality as a natural occurrence, and proved that gay men are just as multifaceted as any other group. Whereas modern media portrays all gay men as the same, feminine, fashionable, and frail, ancient history reveals the reality of strong, empowered gay men and the impact of their bonds and sexuality.
GAY MEN ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE
The "secret" that the armies of ancient Greece included many homosexual men only gained a mysterious status from being conveniently left out of a number of historical accounts. Truthfully, the military forces of Greece considered relationships between two men as a means of boosting morale for battle (Wikipedia). One of the most well-known examples of gay male presence in the ancient history is the Sacred Band of Thebes. A troop consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers, the Sacred Band was formed by the Theban leader Gorgidas in 378 BC (Heritage Daily). It is said that the Band was a driving force in winning the Battle of Leuctra, and their victories proved that sexual orientation has no effect on strength or success. Ancient Greece was so accepting of male homosexuality that it was widely believed that the relationships between the men in the military contributed greatly to their success. Plato mentioned in Symposium that "no man is such a craven that the influence of Love cannot inspire him with a courage that makes him equal to the bravest born (Symposium)." This quote is a nod to the fact that men of the ancient world did not think it beneath them or embarrassing to be involved romantically with another man. They believed quite the opposite, that any form of love would be enough to fuel strength for battle.
When the truth of the matter comes up, many will wrongly assume that gay relationships emerged among warriors only due to the lack of female presence. This is completely untrue. Loving relationships between men were commonplace in ancient times, and there were no distinct categories for sexuality like there are today. Homosexuality back then was not viewed as a hindrance to military capability, and it did not register a male any less manly (Soldiers of Misfortune). The same obviously cannot be said for most of today's militaries, who have a hard time leaving the sexuality of a soldier out of the equation. Love between two men on the battlefield would be a thing of horror in today's world, but in ancient Greece, it was seen as a quality that connected the soldiers. With the many successes of the Spartan army, how is it possible that people still find a way to link the qualities of a gay man with weakness or fragility? The media does a good job of circulating the same recycled stereotype of a gay male, purposely denying coverage of gay men that society would consider "manly."
STRONG GAY FIGURES IN MODERN HISTORY
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Though the idea of strong, masculine figures in the gay community became mythical throughout societal history, positive male role models have since emerged in popular culture and remind the world that, yes - you can be a gay male and be powerful. Classic film legend and bisexual man Marlon Brando, pictured above, helped to bring leather fashion into the spotlight for American males both straight and gay during his bad-boy role in the 1953 movie, "The Wild One." In playing his role, he also served as a positive and very masculine role model for the gay community. Brando and his fellow motorcyclists roared onto the scene decked out in jet-black leather, dark glasses and a blatant disregard for the constraints and stereotypes of society. It was an empowering, inspiring and rebellious statement that had an undeniable impact on pop culture. Though Brando did participate in heterosexual relationships, he was also bravely open about his relationships with males. A pioneer for his age, he may have possibly played a huge role in lending leather to the world of the gay biker community at the time. Brando is proof that not every gay or bisexual male is inherently feminine, weak, or a combination of the two.
[Rob Halford, singer of Judas Priest]
A prime example of a badass, strong gay figure in modern society is none other than the God of Metal, Rob Halford of Judas Priest. Does Halford or Brando look weak or emasculate to you? Absolutely not. There is no cookie-cutter mold for every gay male on earth, and these two are leather-clad proof that they gay male identity can not be shoved into a box or in any way demeaned. Judas Priest was, and still continues to be one of the biggest defining forces in metal music, an industry that is known for its hard, cut-throat mentality. When Halford came out as a homosexual man, did he lose the entire Judas Priest fan base and become labeled as a delicate flower? Absolutely not. The public, including his fans were widely supportive of his lifestyle, and better yet, simply didn't care. His sexuality did not affect his music or render the band any less "metal" than before.
With exemplary men like Halford and Brando, it is a shame that the media chooses only to focus on the feminine gay male persona. There is no problem with an effeminate male, but there is a huge problem when the entire world is under the impression that all gay males are into women's fashion, and cannot hold their own or be aggressive.
RELEVANT BOOKS
From Amazon:
Homosexuality in Greece and Rome: A Sourcebook of Basic Documents (Also available at UMD)
One-Hundred Years of Homosexuality: And Other Essays on Greek Love (Also available at UMD)
From UMD Library Search:
Roman Homosexuality: Ideologies of Masculinity in Classical Antiquity
The Greeks and Greek Love: A Bold New Exploration of the Ancient World
Bisexuality in the Ancient World
Images of Ancient Greek Pederasty: Boys Were Their Gods
The Constraints of Desire: The Anthropology of Sex and Gender in Ancient Greece