LGBT thems in mythology

Religious narrative has included stories interpreted by many as accounts of same-sex love and sexuality. Other myths contain LGBT references. Among surviving examples are:

List of myths associated with same-sex love

Arranged by continent of origin of the religion. Entries of names specific partners are alphabetical.

Africa

Egypt

The Americas

Asia and the Middle East

Babylonia

Enkidu and Gilgamesh

Biblical

David and Jonathan

China

Japan

Ōkuninushi (大国主) and Sukunabikona or Sukunahikona (少名毘古那神 or 少彦名神)
Takemikazuchi ( タケミカヅチ; 建御雷之男神建御雷神 ) and Takeminakata ( タケミナカタ, 建御名方神たけみなかたのかみ）
Monju, Monju Bosatsu; Manjusri (Monju 文殊 or Monju-shiri 文殊師利菩薩)
Jizō, Jizō Bosatsu; Ksitigarbha (Jizō 地蔵, Jizo-o Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩)
Kannon, Syō Kannon Bosatsu (聖観音菩薩); Avalokiteśvara　
Aizen Myō-ō (愛染明王 or 愛染妙王)
Fudō Myō-ō (不動明王); Acala　　　　
Shudō Daimyōjin (衆道大明神); Patron God of shudo (衆道)]]Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

Celtic

Greece

Norse

List of LGBT related deities and myths

Listed in alphabetical order, with culture of origin noted and statement of how it relates to LGBT.

Ahsonnutli, in Navaho tradition, a bisexual creator god
Anteros, Greek god of unrequited love, was also a term used for the love which arises in the beloved boy in a pederastic relationship.
Amazons, in Greek mythology, a nation of warrior women
Asiaq, in Inuit mythology, the deity of storms, generally portrayed as female, but sometimes as male
Atea and Fakahotu a Polynesian god and goddess who change sexes when their son dies of hunger
Chin (Mayan god), Mayan god of homosexuality
Eros, Greek god of sexual love of all types
Freyr, a Norse god of fertility, may have been worshipped by a group of homosexual or effeminate priests, as suggested by Saxo Grammaticus in his Gesta Danorum and later by Dumézil ^[1]
Grettir, an Icelandic hero, had a voracious sexual appetite and was said to have slept with men, women and animals alike.^{[citation needed]}
Hu Tianbao, Chinese god of homosexuality
Loki, a Norse trickster god, who frequently disguises himself as a woman and has given birth, (whilst in the form of a white mare, he took a 'passive' role in a homosexual/bestial encounter with the stallion) Svadilfari, resulting in his giving birth to the foal Sleipnir.
Mandulis, a Nubian sky deity, pictured as male, with pendulous breasts
Mawu-Lisa, a depiction of the creator deity in Dahomey tradition presented as both male and female
Nana Buluku the androgynous supreme deity of the Dahomey
Odin is mentioned as a practitioner of seiðr, a form of magic considered shameful for men to perform, so was reserved for women. It is possible that the practice of seiðr involved passive sexual rites ^[2].
Ometeotl, the Aztec master of duality, considered both male and female
Tiresias, a male Greek prophet who was turned into a woman for 7 years

Spoken-word versions - audio files

Footnotes

^ Dumézil, Georges. From Myth to Fiction: the Saga of Hadingus. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1970. (p115)
^ Viking Answer Lady Webpage - Homosexuality in Viking Scandinavia

Bibliography

Bernard Sergent

Homosexuality in Greek Myth
L'homosexualité initiatique dans l'Europe ancienne

Andrew Calimach

Lovers' Legends: The Gay Greek Myths
Lovers' Legends Unbound

Conner, Sparks & Sparks

Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit

External links

GLBT mythology, links and references
Greek Mythology The secret Greek myths of male love, ancient coming-of-age rituals, uncensored and developed.
The Two-Spirit Tradition essay on male love and same-sex marriage in Native American shamanic religion.
Homosexuality and the Ancient Greeks
[1]

[1] Dumézil, Georges. From Myth to Fiction: the Saga of Hadingus. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1970. (p115)

[2] Viking Answer Lady Webpage - Homosexuality in Viking Scandinavia

[1]

[2]