The LGBT community is often the target of a lot of debate in the media. While same-sex couples gained the right to marry in 2015, there are still contentious opinions on the matter. It might seem as if this is a battle that has been raging since the dawn of time. In reality, that’s not quite the case. Historically, western civilizations seem to have had the biggest battles over homosexuality. Elsewhere, there are a number of ancient cultures where LGBT individuals were not considered out of the ordinary.

Exploring how ancient cultures viewed homosexuality can shed some interesting light on the struggle for same-sex couples to feel accepted by the public. Take a look at these examples and learn a bit about the fluctuating beliefs that have existed throughout time.

Eastern Beliefs

Though Europe and the Americas have had some serious battles over the centuries regarding homosexuality, nations like China and Japan have a different story. Experts believe that the oldest recorded information on homosexuality comes from China. This comes from a document dated around 600 BCE. Ancient Chinese culture used various euphemistic terms for homosexual relationships. Some of these terms, such as “pleasures of the bitten peach,” are still in use today. Similarly, homosexual individuals in Japanese folklore are referred to as shudo, and these characters are usually associated with samurai or monks.

Though many know of the Greeks’ and the Romans’ stance on homosexuality, few know about its presence in eastern nations. It is hard to know exactly how accepted LGBT relationships were on a social level. Due to the significant time which has passed, there are not enough records to form a concise opinion on the matter. Still, the presence of same-sex couples in literature and art from these countries is enough to know it was somewhat common at the time.

Native Americans

In the Americas, the indigenous peoples had an array of different beliefs in regards to homosexuality. When the Spanish first came to South America, they recorded the natives engaging in a wide array of sexual practices considered perverse to Europeans. This is due to trans and homosexual individuals being commonplace in a vast majority of the tribes. Records indicate that Aztecs, Mayans, and dozens of other tribes accepted homosexuality. They did not think any differently about those who engaged in these relationships. Unfortunately, the colonizing Europeans would ensure an end to this.

In North America, a large number of tribes believed there were many genders. The modern concept of gender, actually, is one that indigenous people did not adhere to at all. Amongst the tribes, individuals who fit outside the gender-binary would be given certain roles and jobs, and these positions would often be respected and prominent. To this day, indigenous people use the term “Two Spirit” as an umbrella term to refer to those who transcend the notions of gender and sexuality.

A Rich Tapestry

It is often difficult to ascertain the truth about the way that cultures view LGBT individuals. There are heavy debates among historians about how ancient Egyptians viewed homosexuality. The modern understanding of this culture is based on findings in various tombs and pyramids. There are references to same-sex couples, most famously the tomb of Nyankh-Khnum and Khnum-hotep. Archaeologists believe the two were lovers who also had families. It is not entirely clear what the public opinion on homosexuality was. It will remain a matter of great speculation until Egyptologists uncover evidence one way or the other.

The current world might be a minefield of opinions on same-sex relationships, but that’s only one part of the story. The past is a rich tapestry filled with stories of acceptance and intrigue throughout ancient cultures.