Gay Civil Unions Sanctioned in Medieval EuropeBy Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience Staff Writerposted: 27 August 2007 08:50 am ETCivil unions between male couples existed around 600 years ago in medieval Europe, a historian now says. Historical evidence, including legal documents and gravesites, can be interpreted as supporting the prevalence of homosexual relationships hundreds of years ago, said Allan Tulchin of Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. If accurate, the results indicate socially sanctioned same-sex unions are nothing new, nor were they taboo in the past. “Western family structures have been much more varied than many people today seem to realize," Tulchin writes in the September issue of the Journal of Modern History. "And Western legal systems have in the past made provisions for a variety of household structures.” For example, he found legal contracts from late medieval France that referred to the term "affrèrement," roughly translated as brotherment. Similar contracts existed elsewhere in Mediterranean Europe, Tulchin said. In the contract, the "brothers" pledged to live together sharing "un pain, un vin, et une bourse," (that's French for one bread, one wine and one purse). The "one purse" referred to the idea that all of the couple's goods became joint property. Like marriage contracts, the "brotherments" had to be sworn before a notary and witnesses, Tulchin explained. The same type of legal contract of the time also could provide the foundation for a variety of non-nuclear households, including arrangements in which two or more biological brothers inherited the family home from their parents and would continue to live together, Tulchin said. But non-relatives also used the contracts. In cases that involved single, unrelated men, Tulchin argues, these contracts provide “considerable evidence that the affrèrés were using affrèrements to formalize same-sex loving relationships." The ins-and-outs of the medieval relationships are tricky at best to figure out. "I suspect that some of these relationships were sexual, while others may not have been," Tulchin said. "It is impossible to prove either way and probably also somewhat irrelevant to understanding their way of thinking. They loved each other, and the community accepted that.”
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Gay Civil Unions Sanctioned in Medieval Europe
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Wow.. now isn't that something!! I thought things were to progress with time... not decline. heheThat's very interesting Scotty, thanks for posting it
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Wow. Things sure have changed since then, huh? I wonder what society might be like today if we accepted them. Surely it would cause more effects than just acceptance.Now... what about bisexuals...? Hm...
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>>>"Surely it would cause more effects than just acceptance."
Such as?
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Well, any decision anyone makes seems to cause more things than just the main one.For example, if we were to accept gay relationships, not only would we have no hard feelings against them, there'd be lots of other things happening. Like frequent additions of gay relationships, marriages, and even gay team vs straight team in sports could become more common. The word gay would become more comfortable; it'll probably wear out as an insult by petty kids, and people who seem to feel guilty about being gay will not have to anymore. More things will change and progress, in my opinion, at least. I don't dislike gay people. In fact, one time or another I thought I was one.
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I am proud to live in a country where being different is accepted and respected as a way of life. Although im not Gay myself i work with people who are and it is great that they are allowed to formally express their feelings for one another.
It'd be good for other countries to roll with the times ay and stop forcing their out of date ordeals on their people.
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Quote:
For example, if we were to accept gay relationships, not only would we have no hard feelings against them, there'd be lots of other things happening. Like frequent additions of gay relationships, marriages, and even gay team vs straight team in sports could become more common. The word gay would become more comfortable; it'll probably wear out as an insult by petty kids, and people who seem to feel guilty about being gay will not have to anymore. More things will change and progress, in my opinion, at least. I don't dislike gay people. In fact, one time or another I thought I was one.
My only problem with this is that jew is still used as an insult =/
I have nothing against homosexuals as individuals. Individually they are great. However, I must admit I question the life style as a whole. But, thats a debate which could go on infinitely and has no ultimate real answers.
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Originally Posted By: Nny My only problem with this is that jew is still used as an insult =/I have nothing against homosexuals as individuals. Individually they are great. However, I must admit I question the life style as a whole. But, thats a debate which could go on infinitely and has no ultimate real answers. "Lifestyle"... that still irritates me....
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Don't even pretend that you're not a flaming homosexual who speaks in a high voice, squeals at gorgeous patterns and colours, checks out every man who walks by while shouting derogatory comments, talks about being gay 24/7 and is allergic to any drinks that don't have little umbrellas in them!!
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What do you think the "lifestyle" is?
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Originally Posted By: bobaliciousDon't even pretend that you're not a flaming homosexual who speaks in a high voice, squeals at gorgeous patterns and colours, checks out every man who walks by while shouting derogatory comments, talks about being gay 24/7 and is allergic to any drinks that don't have little umbrellas in them!! LoL... well you know
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I have to admit, my baby's daddy does have a rather deep and sexy voice :grin:
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Originally Posted By: Katie Lou I have to admit, my baby's daddy does have a rather deep and sexy voice RAWR!! wink
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Quote:What do you think the "lifestyle" is? Quite honestly what it sounds like =/Most of the people on this board don't label themselves and I highly, highly respect that. whatever floats your boat so long as it doesn't involve unwilling victems.I'm doing my best to phrase this so it won't be mistaken and then have someone jump down my throat totally misinterpreting what I mean.So I guess the best way to phrase it is like this. If you begin to contemplate the issues of love just between two people its simple enough. Its an emotion. Then you begin to think about platonic relationships. You can love someone who is only a friend platonicly. So then what seperates it from intimate love? However, you can then think about brotherly love in which you love your brother. What seperates that from generic platonic love? How does it differ from a more intimate love?So then after thinking about those things the lines of "love" in effect become blurry. The more you muse on them the more "love" as a whole becomes more abstract.So ultimately I can't pretend to understand the idea of "homosexuality". Usuaully the more I meditate it the more obscure it seems. Which is why I can't really say I feel that it is anything more then a vague concept in which I will always fail to grasp. And people usually reject what they can't understand. Which is why I'm perfectly fine with individuals but, not nessicerly the "lifestyle" as a whole.
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I think that answered everything but the question.What is this "lifestyle" you aren't necessarily fine with? Your the one thats not altogether fine with it, I'm just wondering what you think it is? ...regardless the abstractions and musings of love.
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Originally Posted By: HelmsmaN
Imagine that, twinks that are dinks! What a coinkydink! LOL
ROFL!!
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My wife and I are dinks as well. I do enjoy the traveling it allows.Jesus Christ!..... we're gay!
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To be fair to Nny, there is a "lifestyle" that is associated with certain groups of gay men. I've seen it. But the mistake is assuming that that is the "lifestyle" of all gay men. It would be tantamount to assuming that the Hugh Hefner playboy lifestyle is my lifestyle.
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LOL, I hate lifestyle, too.I also hate to hear people say "black culture." I don't even know what black culture is. LOL.
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Originally Posted By: ClassyBlackWoman I don't even know what black culture is. LOL. Isn't that like licorice flavored yogurt?sorry...