Homosexuality in Britain (5th/6th century AC): Celts, Saxons, Picts and Scots

[lucre_noin]

I usually write a lot of arthurian stories but this time I'd love to document well myself about homosexuality and arthurian times.
The story is in 5th/6th century and the societies/cultures in the stories are: Celts, Picts, Scots, Saxons and Celts conquered by Romans. And, of course, one of the male characters is in love with another male character.

Comments

[lytrigian]

What might have been sinful and to what degree as canonized by the Church may not be the same thing as social acceptability, and I don't think one can be taken as a reliable guide to the other.

For instance, while both the receptive and active partners in same-sex relations might be under the same canon, I'd find it hard to believe that the same stigma attached to both according to society. The receptive partner has very, very often been seen as less acceptable than the active. Heterosexual relations were usually far less stigmatized than homosexual even if they were equally illicit.

While I don't know about this for a fact in Celtic culture -- I'm not sure anyone does -- it's something to consider.

As far as "Celtic practices", caution is required. There is often less there than meets the eye. Some apparently ancient customs cannot be shown to be particularly so. The locals are unfortunately no help: they have sometimes been contaminated by anthropologists who have come by and told them (often without evidence) that what they're doing harks back to antiquity, which they then believe and repeat to anyone who asks. (See Ronald Hutton, The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British Isles)