How were homosexuals treated in medieval and renaissance europe?
In the Middle Ages homosexuality was considered a sin – and since medieval Europe was basically run by the church – anything considered being ‘against god’ was very serious business. Even some members of the clergy – very suspect as they were all men living together – went to the extremes of having affairs with women – while still a sin – to escape the wrath of the Church. As time progressed in the Middle Ages homosexuality began to be viewed as not merely a religious problem, but a secular one – and one punishable by death! “In Bologna in the late 14th Century the punishment for sodomy or homosexuality was being burned to death.” Keep in mind Bologne is in Northern Italy… it is therefore ironic that in the Renaissance cities such as Venice and Florence, same region, “were renowned for their widespread practice of same-sex love, engaged in by a considerable part of the male population.” In this time period homosexuality was far more popular, but also taboo. Books were written arguing
