# Homosexuals in primitive societies - How did they make a place for themselves?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-primitive-societies-how-did-they-make-a-place-for-themselves/180594>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 9, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-primitive-societies-how-did-they-make-a-place-for-themselves/180594 "2003-06-09T04:34:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-primitive-societies-how-did-they-make-a-place-for-themselves/180594/21 "2003-06-09T21:19:12Z")

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In an unsuccessful attempt to find a cite for my earlier anecdote (posted above) I came across a number of interesting sites relating to the role of the “berdache” or two-spirit (male or female who adopted the role of the opposite sex) in North American Indian societies. It seems in many cases the male was welcomed as very proficient at female tasks. Female to male transgression was less common because the female was seen as trying to move to a higher-prestige role.

Another site refers to the sodomy of young men by older men in Papua New Guinea - the injection of semen into the boy is by way of an initiation to manhood.

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-primitive-societies-how-did-they-make-a-place-for-themselves/180594/22 "2003-06-09T23:46:18Z")

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Of course, in Jane Auel’s _Mammoth Hunter_ series she makes the gay guy the tribe’s nurse.

Way to stereotype, Jane!

:rolleyes:

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**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homosexuals-in-primitive-societies-how-did-they-make-a-place-for-themselves/180594/23 "2003-06-09T23:52:11Z")

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I’m sorry about my last reply. I don’t think it was appropriate for GQ.

Could a moderator please delete it it possible (and this one too).

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