Yeah Ancient Roman Empire allowed homosexuality, it was only until Christianity/other Judaic-based religions started to emerge that it became prohibited.(edited)
Some examples of homosexuality in Ancient Rome: (Martial’s Epigram II.28, Epigram II.56, Martial’s Epigram III.71, VI.36, XII.20, IV.48, IX.69, XI.30).
Did Ancient Rome’s perception of homosexuality change after Christianity became the predominant faith?
In Ancient Rome, sexual orientation didn’t exist as a concept. Historians such as Louis Crompton in his work Homosexuality & Civilization argues against this but his evidence from Plato’s Symposium.
In summary of David Halperin’s One Hundred Years of Homosexuality, sexuality was profoundly different then how our current society views it:
Greek and Romans did not have identities based around their sexual practices. You were not labeled homosexual for sleeping with a member of the same sex; the act did not confer social identity like it does today.
Greek and Roman males were far more concerned with the submissive/penetrated role; since masculinity was highly regulated in their culture, the penetrated was an inferior position meant for women, slaves, or male youths. The male citizen in this role was transgressing his virtue.
Relationships with the same-sex were never equitable to male-female bonds of marriage since they could not produce children. Plato as the first philosopher of record to denounce same-sex attraction as unnatural. Marriage was also largely public concern being negotiations between families, and producing heirs was an important part of the agreement.
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