# Ancient Homosexuality, why did it become "mainstream" at different times in different cultures?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 9, 2019, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820 "2019-03-09T07:22:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820/41 "2019-03-14T01:58:11Z")

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> [@Colibri](#):
>
> I figured as much. But the word itself doesn’t imply that, particularly relating to behavior in antiquity.

Still, I think there’s an argument that modern homosexuality and pederasty do not describe the same sorts of relationships. There isn’t the inequality involved, nor an idea that you should give it up as you get older. And it is treated as equivalent to heterosexuality.

It’s possible that what allows it to become “mainstream” this time isn’t the same.

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**Author:** ![gatorslap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gatorslap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gatorslap)\
**Post date:** [March 14, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-homosexuality-why-did-it-become-mainstream-at-different-times-in-different-cultures/830820/42 "2019-03-14T02:03:22Z")

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> [@BigT](#):
>
> Still, I think there’s an argument that modern homosexuality and pederasty do not describe the same sorts of relationships.

That’s true, but modern heterosexuality and ancient forms of marriage also do not describe the same sorts of relationships.

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