Stonehenge to stonewal I Paradise Found Bali ha’l The great 19th-century , American novelist Herman Melville found gay sex in his early travels to the islands of the South Pacific. His experi- ences there colored his entire life. He wrote as openly as he could about homosexuality in native tribes and in the mascu- line world of the sailing ship. But those were repressive times, and gay men often had to settle for such exotic fan- tasies. Remember how Ishmael and Queequeg sleep together at the start of Moby Dick? “Thus, then, in our hearts’ honeymoon, lay I and Queequeg—a cosy loving pair.” Here is the idyllic romance between the dark- skinned stranger and the fair sailor. Melville often describes his I heroes in feminine terms, as in Billy Budd. In his Gay American History, Jonathan Ned Katz characterizes that short novel as “a study of types of male-male love.” In Melville’s early novel Omoo, we meet one of the princes of Tahiti, Pomaree II, who was well known to be homosexual. In Iypee, he lovingly describes a “Polynesian Apollo” as well as his own tayo, or bosom friend, a lad named Poky. (Oh, the stuff they never taught you in high school!) Some Enchanted Evening In one of the more interest- ing pairings in the annals of American letters, Melville fell in love with Nathaniel Hawthome in the Berkshires. At the time, Hawthorne was 46, Melville, 31. V Wrote Melville, “The soft ravish- ments of the man spun me round about in a web of dreams.” However, Hawthorne was such a Puritan that nothing much came of it. They soon parted ways, but neither man ever forgot the encounter, and you can find echoes of it in their writings. (Melville had been at work on Moby Dick, which he dedicated to Hawthorne.) Of course, both men were married with children, but curiously, both Wives were as outgoing and masculine as their husbands were reserved and feminine—— and very handsome to boot! Hawthorne later said of Melville, “If he were a reli- gious man, he would be one of the most truly religious and reverential.” Happy Talk What Melville found in the Polynesian islands was no anomaly. Homosexuality fig- ured richly into the cultures of every North American tribe from the Maya to the Eskimo. The majority of Indians in the New World welcomed and cel- ebrated the people we would now readily identify as gay. Androgyny was regarded as a powerful spiritual gift, as well as an unchangeable part of a person’s nature. This spiritual aspect of homosexuality sheds light on the way things must have been in prehistoric times. Then remember the early Eastern cults of Hera, Isis, Inanna, and Athirat, to name a few, which were served by androgynous men in fancy dress. Here again, on the other side of the globe, are priests who blend the elements of male and female. I find this constant aspect of the human condition both striking ‘and profound. Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair A berdache is a man who does not fulfill the traditional male role in Indian society. It was considered a great honor for a family and their tribe when a boy was born who liked to weave cloth and make pots. When he grew up, he was accepted by the tribe in a for- mal ceremony and invested with special spiritual powers. When “she” married a man, a powerful and rich pair was formed. (There’s that “dispos- able income” again!) The first Europeans thought these cross-dressing Indians were hermaphrodites. They were soon set straight and immediately appalled. The early Christian missionaries had their work cut out for them, yet don’t you think these ’ “black skirts” might have entertained gay fantasies of their own? A Wonderful Guy The term berdache is European in origin. Each tribe actually had its own word for these -mystical shamans. The position came with great social prestige and unique ceremonial roles that included the gift of prophecy and the ability to work miracles. They helped solve disputes between men and women (situations that often call for miracles) and served as a bridge between the Great Spirit and his people. By Charlie Emond In addition, they were loved by children and considered ideal teachers. They often took young people into their homes. There is a wonderful portrayal of a he-ma-nee in the Dustin Hoffman movie Little Big Man. See it again and marvel at how Hollywood got it righ for once. ’ There is Nothing Like a Dame A work I highly recom- mend, Walter Williams’ The Spirit and the Flesh, presents ancient and modem examples from more than a dozen Native American tribes ranging as far south as the Maya of Central America. Williams also writes at length of the South Pacific, where, in Tahiti, the mahu is still a part of village life. The mahu take the female role in sexual relations with men. The men consider that _such activity has no more bear- ing on their masculinity than having sex with women. It is the same in the Marquesas, in Samoa, and among the Maori in New Zealand. In Hawaii, mahu are the best hula dancers. You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught Most modern Native American tribes, because they were so soundly Christianized, have become ashamed of this important aspect of their past and have accepted the white man’s condemnation of gay men in any guise. This is a sad commentary on tribes that once claimed, “We don’t waste peo- ple the way white society does.” Charlie Emond has a bache- lors degree from Queens College and masters degrees from both Dartmouth and Keene State. He teaches col- lege history courses in Springfield and White River Junction. Stonehenge to Stonewall is syndicated by Above the Fold, LTD, info@abovefold. com. Suggestions for further reading: ‘Homosexuals in History by A. L. Rowse ° Gay Mystics by Andrew Harvey april 2001- OlTl‘1 ° 15 %§?”*” .. _ /3 i‘.?5*eeeThe Civil Union ‘ and Gift Registry Let THE STORE in Waitsfleld help you make the decision of a lifetime... . $- Our experienced staff will assist you with care and guide you in making your important choices. 0‘. A wide selection of quality china, glassware, 1? flatware, Wilton, Calphalon, Le Creuset cookware, All Clad, Cuisinarts, Wusthof knives, housewares, linens, antiques, pottery, table settings, gifts for the bath and gifis for your attendants. . °>‘—- We will display in our store a special table, just for you. Beautifully set with the sumptuous choices from your registry. 9!- Our Civil Union Consultants can help you with your invitations, rehearsal dinner, flowers, catering, cake, photographers, hair styling...and all the important details. 9‘. The Store’s Registry is unique for its personal and loving attention to you and your guests. No matter if you are in the area or out of town, we are only a phone call away on The Store Hotline. 1-(800)—639-8031 TH E S'l‘0llE Route 100, Waitsfield, Vemlont (802) 496-4465 FAX (802)496-7719 Est. 1965 _ Open 10-6 Daily Email - info@vennontstore.com Web Site - www.vermontstore.com 802-453-6677 fax 802-453-6685 dlescoe@together.net PO Box 42 42 Ttillium Lane Starksboro, VT 05487 Investment Adviser nu} senlarive of. and securities offered through Tower Square Securities, lnc.‘ g . Member NASD/SIPC ~ ‘Not alllllated with Choice Financial Services Elizabeth C. Campbell, CPA, PC Certified Public Accountants 15 East Washington Street, Rutland 05701 802-773-4030 / liz@rallyCPA.com Tax specialists serving individuals qgnd small businesses °<§.‘>°<§>°K>°<§>°<§.‘>°<§‘>°<§<.‘>°<§>°<§>°@> Clifford D. Troll, Jr., Ph-.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist — Doctorate 168 Battery Street Burlington, Vermont 05401 802.862.0836 °<§1>°<’§.‘>°<7§.‘>°<"'£‘>°<§‘>°<§>°<§>°<§‘><><§>°