What do the silences in ancient records reveal about the politics of erasing queer histories?
I will explore how the lack of queer representation in historical texts can shed light on the political motivations behind their exclusion. Through an analysis of various primary sources from different time periods and cultures, I aim to demonstrate that the absence of queer narratives is no accident but rather a deliberate choice made by those in power to control society's understanding of gender and sexuality.
The first example I would like to discuss is the ancient Greek civilization, which was known for its openness towards same-sex relationships between men.
When it comes to written records, there are very few mentions of these relationships beyond casual references in poems and plays.
Plato wrote about homoerotic love affairs in his dialogues but never spoke explicitly about them. This silence has led some scholars to believe that the Greeks were more tolerant than they actually were. But others argue that the lack of explicit mention is due to censorship or self-censorship. The idea being that if such relationships were discussed openly, they would have been seen as unnatural and immoral. So instead, they were relegated to private spaces outside of public discourse.
Another example is early Christianity, where any kind of non-heterosexual behavior was considered sinful. Yet despite this stance, many biblical passages refer to queer identities without using derogatory terms. One famous case is the story of David and Jonathan from the book of Samuel. While the relationship between the two men is not explicitly described as romantic, their intimacy suggests something beyond friendship. Other examples include cross-dressing prophets and eunuchs who played important roles in religious life. Again, this implies that the Church had an ambivalent attitude toward queerness that was difficult to reconcile with its strict rules.
In modern times, we see a similar phenomenon in colonialism. Colonial powers often erased indigenous cultures' sexual norms by imposing their own values on them.
In India, British administrators criminalized same-sex relationships among Hindus while encouraging polygamy among Muslims. This policy reflected Britain's moral codes rather than Indian traditions. Similarly, in Africa, missionaries denounced African customs as barbaric while promoting European gender norms.
Contemporary societies continue to repress queer narratives through censorship or self-censorship. Many countries still criminalize homosexuality, making it difficult for LGBTQ+ individuals to speak openly about their experiences. Even in liberal democracies like the United States, media outlets tend to minimize queer stories or present them as marginal. This reflects society's fear of deviating from traditional gender roles and sexual mores.
I argue that the silences in ancient records reveal the politics behind the exclusion of queer histories. By limiting our understanding of non-heteronormative identities, those in power have controlled public discourse and reinforced rigid gender norms. As we seek to understand our past, it is crucial that we acknowledge these omissions and challenge them. Only then can we truly appreciate the diversity of human experience.
What do the silences in ancient records reveal about the politics of erasing queer histories?
The silences in ancient records can provide insight into the politics of erasing queer histories by highlighting how certain identities were marginalized or excluded from official historical narratives. The absence of references to same-sex relationships, gender nonconformity, and other queer experiences suggests that these topics may have been considered taboo or unacceptable at the time.