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The Comparison and Contrast of Homosexuality during the Venetian times and Present day

Homosexuality is having sexual relations with another person of the same sex. Homosexuality has been an issue for many years. Going back to the Venetian times, many of the society were involved in some form of homosexual intercourse; whether it be openly advertised or secretly between two individuals. Several pieces of literature have an implication of homosexuality, many of which were written by William Shakespeare. “The actual merchant of Venice, Antonio, displays this homosexual identity that might only be recognizable to the modern day reader” (Homosexuality in William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, www.123helpme.com).

The history of homosexuality originated from the Greeks, who would sometimes make sexual use of their slaves. Some masters had their slaves just for sexual relations. Many people state that homosexuality is against the views of the Bible. “There are no biblical manuscripts that contain one word of even vaguely being translated as male homosexuality being an inherent or involuntary condition” (Virtually Normal: An argument about homosexuality, Drew Sullivan). Today, homosexuality is looked upon as being more sociably acceptable. Especially with the spread of the Gay-Rights Movement, society looks at homosexuals and thinks nothing different, but as them being part of a normal community and having their different beliefs on relationships. “Until the eighteenth century, there were no societal, psychological, or self-identifying concepts of ‘gay’ and ‘lesbian’ as we know them today. But the eighteenth century was an era of transition that gave rise to modern homosexualities” (History 1450-1789 of Homosexuality, www.answers.com).