In many aboriginal traditional faiths, homosexuals are held in high regard as having
received a special blessing. They often became the shamans (healers) of the community.
They are referred to as the berdache or "two-spirited" people.
These religions are almost completely decentralized in organization, so no one person
or organization speaks for an entire faith tradition. Many, perhaps most, Neo-Pagans are
solitary practitioners. Others are organized into Covens, Groves, Kindreds, etc.
Many Wiccan and some other Pagan groups attempt to achieve a roughly equal
number of males and females in their rituals.
However, they generally accept homosexuality and bisexuality as natural
and unchangeable orientations for a minority of adults. Most groups welcome people without
regard to their sexual orientation. Most regard sex as a gift of the Goddess to
be enjoyed responsibly, and in accordance with one's sexual orientation. That
is, sexual orientation is morally neutral. Sexual behavior -- whether between
two persons of the same sex or of opposite sexes -- only becomes immoral if it
is unsafe, manipulative or non-consensual.
An individual Wiccan generally acknowledges that female and male energies
permeate the universe. The sun is regarded as male; the moon female. The rain is
male; the nurturing earth is female. They also contain both both female and male
energies within themselves. Their beliefs and rituals help them sense these
energies and achieve an optimum balance.
There are also a few exclusively gay and exclusively lesbian
Neo-pagan groups.
Reference:
Rabbi Gershon Caudill, "A Heterosexual Jewish Rebbe's View on the
(Supposedly) Homosexual Texts in the Hebrew Bible," at:
http://www.affirmation.org/
"Social Action Resolutions," Congress of Secular Jewish
Organizations, at:
http://www.csjo.org/
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