In East Asia the situation has been nothing if not paradoxical. Before the arrival of the Europeans there was little concern either way. Then Western models of repression began to be followed (Japan copied Prussia and instituted an anti-gay law in 1873), and when decriminalization eventually ensued it was after the pattern of changes in the US and Europe. What a tragic farce! Countries such as Thailand, blissfully free from colonial influence, continued on their own sweet way without interruption.
In China, however, Communist Party orthodoxy followed the lines of 19th century Western Marxism. Homosexuality was unmentionable in 19th century Europe (though everywhere practiced more extensively than in the frenetically homophobic Anglo-Saxon countries), and so in revolutionary China it was deemed not to exist. Things may be easing up somewhat today, but in essence, to use Crompton's words, "a rich historical tradition has been lost."
How did such a state of affairs come about? Read Homosexuality and Civilization, a sobering survey if ever there was one, and find out. But at least Harvard University's Belknap Press has seen fit to publish all 623 pages of it.
Lay thy hand on a woman (only one, mind you) and you'll maybe go to heaven. But let it stray elsewhere, and woe betide you! So taught St Paul, though not, be it noted, Jesus Christ. And so Western males were exhorted over the centuries, while their Chinese counterparts relaxed in a relatively easy-going worldly wisdom, judged idolatory by the rapacious foreigner.
Westerners have a lot to learn from Asia, wiser and infinitely more adult all along, by and large. So -- are we at last learning our lesson? Possibly.
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