are there any cultures, religions, or countrys where homosexuality is encouraged or accepted?

[luzz]

I'm doing an anthro/psych/soc report and my thesis is that North America's media's lack of homosexual portrayals causes low self-esteem and suicide amoung its's homosexual youth. my main points are that youth develop these negative feelings because of North American media’s lack of homosexuality portrayals, being alienation in most all social groups, and bullying. Now I'm working on my connections to anthro/psych/soc and I cant think of one for anthropology that doesnt counter my thesis because north america is one of the most accepting of homosexuality so I was thinking it would be easier to to a comparison if i could actually find a social group that doesnt alienate homosexuality.

so If you could help me you would save my life or if you could give me another idea for my anthro connection...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE its due tomorrow

[Alen Tiering]

Mayan culture

[david w]

The Spartans openly encouraged homosexuality. However, they are all dead and that might be the clue!

[me]

Most cultures before the rise of Judaism. Native Americans, Pagans, Japanese, Chinese, Persians, Romans, Greeks, Aboriginals, Indians, Africans etc. Then Christianity and Islam spread their bigoted hatred around the world under forced colonialism.

[Festus]

Romans and Greeks accepted it.
In Native American cultures, effeminate men were treated as special, but they were not persecuted in any way. Most European cultures are pretty accepting.

How is North American "most accepting"? I don't think that's true -- just from observation of the funD haters.

Certain Christian sects have taken it upon themselves to degrade, humiliate, condemn and ostracize gay people, to their shame. However, there is nothing in the Bible at all about homosexual relationships.
Here's an honest link to a Christian reading of scripture on this subject:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/homarsen.htm

Here's a link to what rabbi's are saying about the haters who try to claim that homosexuality is condemned in the OT:
http://home.earthlink.net/~ecorebbe/id18.html

Hope that helps.

[mv75]

Don't listen to Michael. The bible most specifically states that homosexuals should be killed. No amount of 'explaining it away' is gonna change that. Abrahamic monotheism (islam/xtianity/judaism) all disapprove of homosexuality.

I approve of it because I'm not an idiot aka religious person.

[Alexis]

Jerry - "Atheism"

While atheists do not exist as an organized or cohesive group, I would say that, statistically, atheists do in fact accept and encourage the embracing of the variation of sexual orientations that exist in humanity.

[loufedalis]

San Francisco

[Helper]

There are no other cultures on earth that are as accepting of homosexuality as the USA. In fact, many other nations are very strongly against it. The Muslim religion stones them to death when they are discovered.

The reason you can't think of a connection to anthropology is because there is none. Your thesis is wrong. If you are honest in your search, you will soon reverse your position.