LGBT stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender. In many ways prejudice against gay and transgender people is the last to be officially recognized, and for laws to be passed to make discrimination against LGBT communities illegal. To the world's shame it was not until 2011 that the United Nations passed its first resolution recognizing the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. The main issues concerned with LGBT rights are: the removal of laws prohibiting homosexuality, same sex marriage, same sex partnership adoption and admittance into the armed forces (and other jobs often prohibited to the LGBT community).

There is a long tradition of discrimination against gay people, also at the same time there has been a long tradition of tolerance of same sex attraction and transsexuals. Most famously the Old Testament outlaws gay activity in Leviticus 18. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is unfortunately often cited as indicating that homosexuality is unchristian behavior. The people who use this part of the Bible choose to ignore Jesus' message that we should love our neighbor as ourselves and that those only those who are without sin can criticize the behavior of others. Traditional Islam (which also adopts the Laws of Moses) has a terrible history of persecution of gays and transsexuals.

In contrast, there is a counter history of tolerance and acceptance towards same sex relationships and transgender people. Ancient Rome saw nothing wrong with same sex relationships if they were consensual and if the body of a free Roman was not abused. In ancient Japan Samurai culture embraced homosexuality. In India there are many images to be found on temple walls of same sex union between the gods. The ancient Greeks are famous for their adulation of the young male nude and the purity to be found in sleeping with young men.

The humanist movement starting in Nineteenth Century made 'man the measure of all things'. By removing the laws of monotheistic religions from the equation many progressive humanists began to realize the irrational fear that many societies held for homosexual behavior. This is a movement that has finally reached the level of world edict by the UN giving equal rights to gays, lesbians and transgender people.

The world is finally coming to its senses. There is nothing to fear from the gay community. Indeed cultures should celebrate the significant contributions made to world culture by gay people. Alexander the Great (who ordered the first compilation of the Bible), W. H. Auden (poet), Joan Baez (folk singer and political activist), Simone de Beauvoir (philosopher), Leonard Bernstein (conductor), Dirk Bogarde, Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci, Herman Melville, Horace, Virgil were just a few of the famous gay men and women who have helped shape the arts, philosophy and culture generally. It is one of the greatest ironies of gay culture that the Catholic Church that in the past were so keen on burning and excommunicating gay people employed gay artists to decorate their churches and cathedrals.

The world would be a poorer place without gay culture. It is ridiculous to say that gay people are more intelligent, but is equally preposterous to presume that gay people are in some ways abnormal either inherently or as a result of unfortunate events in their environment. Gays and transsexual people have much to give to society and in the past have made massive contributions.

The issue of transgenderism is a hard one because unlike being gay, it is very visible. In the past, eunuchs have found their role as guarders of the harem. Transsexuals in Arabia and India are outcasts that are invited to marriages to draw away bad luck from a new marriage union.

In Thailand and other parts of Asia the notion of 'lady boy' has become a recognized social role. Societies in South East Asia don't exactly celebrate lady boys but they are widely tolerated and able to secure employment, housing etc. without having to hide their transsexual identity.

With each year that passes more anti-gay laws are being repealed. In Europe many countries are making same sex union legal and allow openly gay people to join the army. Many states in America are following suit. In 1997 China repealed its laws banning homosexuality. There is a growing support around the world to stop prejudice against the LGBT community and to give them equal rights. This is a movement that cannot be stopped with bigots selectively using religious texts. Just as with female suffrage, equal rights for black people and other forms of discrimination, more and more people are finding anti-gay rhetoric abhorrent.

The articles in this website celebrate the many, many facets of gay and transsexual culture. This website does not seek to define and confine gay culture but to explore its many aspects. We seek to show that gay, lesbian and transsexual people share a common humanity with everyone on the planet, and that theirs should not be a love that dare not speak its name.