Gender variance in spirituality: Difference between revisions

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    {{DISPLAYTITLE:Gender Diversity in Religion}}
    {{featured article}}
    {{featured article}}
    {{content warning|cases of religious teachings being used as justification to oppress, abuse, or kill gender variant people and other minorities. It also tells religious stories that contain sex, rape, self-harm, suicide, and violence. Nudity in art.}}
    {{content warning|cases of religious teachings being used as justification to oppress, abuse, or kill gender variant people and other minorities. It also tells religious stories that contain sex, rape, self-harm, suicide, and violence. Nudity in art.}}
    '''Gender variance in spirituality''' is a topic that many religions address, whether their view about it is positive, negative, or open to interpretation. This article should collect information about how religions and spiritual paths view [[gender variance]], particularly [[nonbinary]] and other [[transgender]] people, as well as [[intersex]] people. (It can be open to interpretation whether a person described in old religious writings as having both female and male qualities would be intersex, transgender, or nonbinary. It can also be open to interpretation whether a mythological figure described as a woman in men's clothing is a [[transgender men|transgender man]] or a [[gender nonconforming]] [[women|woman]].) It should collect information about gender variant deities and mythological beings, as well as religions' policies about actual gender variant people. Ideally, it should have a practical focus on what nonbinary people need to know in order to safely interact with religion and spirituality.
    Throughout history, various religions have portrayed '''gender diversity in religion''' differently. As diversity in gender existed as long as gender has, so too has the portrayal of [[transgender]], [[nonbinary]], and [[Gender nonconformity|gender non-conforming]] people in religion. In some religions we have portrayal of gender diversity confirmed through living members. In others, we must deduce from primary sources deities that are diverse in gender. In some cases where a religion is resurrected, common in paganism, there is both an ancient idea of a deity's gender, and a more modern one. Both are portrayed in this article.  


    '''A note on language:''' In religious and folklore studies, the word "mythology" means a religious story, such as one about deities and miracles. In this field of study, "mythology" doesn't mean that the story is untrue or less valid than others. Another problematic word is "hermaphrodite," which is often used in mythology. It is impolite to use this word for real intersex people today, many of whom see it as a slur.
    A lot of primary sources for ancient religions were translated by people who were antagonistic toward transgender and gender non-conforming people. On top of this, ideas of gender vary around the world, and ways of understanding gender diversity are numerous. In cases of dead or revived religions, this makes it hard to interpret whether a deity is binary transgender, nonbinary, or intersex.
     
    '''A note on language:''' In religious and folklore studies, the word "mythology" means a religious story, such as one about deities and miracles. In this field of study, "mythology" doesn't mean that the story is untrue or less valid than others.


    ==Organized by region and culture==
    ==Organized by region and culture==
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    * '''Ghede Nibo''', feminine gay man or dandy
    * '''Ghede Nibo''', feminine gay man or dandy
    * '''Obatala''' (in Brazil: '''Oxala''', in Haiti: '''Blanc-Dani'''), both male and female. Creator of humankind. Depending on the story, gave birth to humans by self-fertilizing, or by dividing into a man and woman.
    * '''Obatala''' (in Brazil: '''Oxala''', in Haiti: '''Blanc-Dani'''), both male and female. Creator of humankind. Depending on the story, gave birth to humans by self-fertilizing, or by dividing into a man and woman.
    * '''Olokun.''' In the religion of Santeria, Olokun is the hermaphroditic deity of the ocean, "who wears very long hair and who lives in the depths of the ocean floor with a great retinue of mermaids and tritons."<ref>Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, Santeria: African magic in Latin America, p. 26.</ref>
    * '''Olokun.''' In the religion of Santeria, Olokun a deity of the ocean posessing both sets of genitals, "who wears very long hair and who lives in the depths of the ocean floor with a great retinue of mermaids and tritons."<ref>Migene Gonzalez-Wippler, Santeria: African magic in Latin America, p. 26.</ref>
    * '''Legba (Ellegua)''', usually male, but changes sex in some stories, and is sometimes portrayed by a girl wearing a phallus.
    * '''Legba (Ellegua)''', usually male, but changes sex in some stories, and is sometimes portrayed by a girl wearing a phallus.
    * '''Mawu-Lisa''', combination of male Mawa and female Lisa
    * '''Mawu-Lisa''', combination of male Mawa and female Lisa
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    Note that Navajo traditions include a [[third gender]] role, called ''nadle'' (''Nádleeh''), which includes people who are intersex, as well as people in the transgender spectrum.
    Note that Navajo traditions include a [[third gender]] role, called ''nadle'' (''Nádleeh''), which includes people who are intersex, as well as people in the transgender spectrum.
    * '''Changing Woman''' (Ahsonnutli, Estsanatlehi, Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé) a Diné Two-Spirit deity. She changes to a different age with each season. In the creation epic, she gives birth to heroic twins, fathered by the Sun, who she marries.
    * '''Changing Woman''' (Ahsonnutli, Estsanatlehi, Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé) a Diné Two-Spirit deity. She changes to a different age with each season. In the creation epic, she gives birth to heroic twins, fathered by the Sun, who she marries.
    * '''Turquoise Boy''' (Turquoise Hermaphrodite, Ashton nutli, Ashton nadle) a two-spirit person, specifically a feminine man (or in some versions intersex), in the creation story (Diné Bahaneʼ). He helped the people escape the great flood. Later, Turquoise Boy became the sun (Jóhonaaʼéí, The One Who Rules the Day), and then he fathers children with Changing Woman, and marries her. In a different story, Turquoise Boy is instead the child of Changing Woman and the Sun; Changing Woman created him as the first two-spirit person because she couldn't decide whether she wanted a son or a daughter, and decided to make a child who was both.
    * '''Turquoise Boy''' (Ashton nutli, Ashton nadle) a two-spirit person, specifically a feminine man (or in some versions intersex), in the creation story (Diné Bahaneʼ). He helped the people escape the great flood. Later, Turquoise Boy became the sun (Jóhonaaʼéí, The One Who Rules the Day), and then he fathers children with Changing Woman, and marries her. In a different story, Turquoise Boy is instead the child of Changing Woman and the Sun; Changing Woman created him as the first two-spirit person because she couldn't decide whether she wanted a son or a daughter, and decided to make a child who was both.
    * '''White Shell Girl''' (White Shell Hermaphrodite), a two-spirit person, in this case a masculine woman, in the creation story who helped Turquoise Boy save the people from the flood. She later became the moon (Tłʼéhonaaʼéí, The One Who Rules the Night).
    * '''White Shell Girl''', a two-spirit person, in this case a masculine woman, in the creation story who helped Turquoise Boy save the people from the flood. She later became the moon (Tłʼéhonaaʼéí, The One Who Rules the Night).


    Figures in Aztec traditions:
    Figures in Aztec traditions:
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    Gender variant deities and patrons of gender variance in Greco-Roman religions:
    Gender variant deities and patrons of gender variance in Greco-Roman religions:
    * Greek mythology with Phrygian origins described '''Agdistis''', who was both male and female. The other gods feared the power of this complete being, and so castrated Agdistis, removing Agdistis's penis. From their blood sprang a tree that bore either almonds or pomegranates, depending on the version of the story, but both of these fruits symbolize the vulva and womb. The fruit of it fertilized Nana, who gave birth to Attis. Agdistis brought chaos to the wedding of Attis, so that Attis went mad, castrated himself, and died. In dismay, Agdistis asked the gods to preserve Attis's body, and founded a festival in his honor. There are several very different versions of the story of Agdistis, but basic events remain similar.<ref>Pierre Grimal and Stephen Kershaw, The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology, p. 27-28.</ref> In some versions, Agdistis a relation or aspect of the goddess Cybele.
    * Greek mythology with Phrygian origins described '''Agdistis''', who was both male and female. The other gods feared the power of this complete being, and so castrated Agdistis, removing Agdistis's penis. From their blood sprang a tree that bore either almonds or pomegranates, depending on the version of the story, but both of these fruits symbolize the vulva and womb. The fruit of it fertilized Nana, who gave birth to Attis. Agdistis brought chaos to the wedding of Attis, so that Attis went mad, castrated himself, and died. In dismay, Agdistis asked the gods to preserve Attis's body, and founded a festival in his honor. There are several very different versions of the story of Agdistis, but basic events remain similar.<ref>Pierre Grimal and Stephen Kershaw, The Penguin Dictionary of Classical Mythology, p. 27-28.</ref> In some versions, Agdistis a relation or aspect of the goddess Cybele.
    * '''Aphrodite''' had male or male-female aspects. Servius said, "There is in Cyprus an image of the bearded Venus with the body and dress of a woman, but with a scepter and the sex of a man, which they call '''Aphroditus''', and to which the men sacrifice in a female dress and the women in a masculine one."<ref>Gerald Massey, ''The natural Genesis.'' p. 512. </ref> This can be seen as the presence of transgender priests and priestess, as the Romans often had antagonistic views towards androgyny. This deity was depicted as a woman with a penis, rather than with a beard.  
    * '''Aphrodite''' had transgender aspects. Servius said, "There is in Cyprus an image...with the body and dress of a woman, but with a scepter and the sex of a man, which they call '''Aphroditus''', and to which the men sacrifice in a female dress and the women in a masculine one."<ref>Gerald Massey, ''The natural Genesis.'' p. 512. </ref> This can be seen as the presence of transgender priests and priestess, as the Romans often had antagonistic views towards androgyny. This deity was depicted as a woman with a penis, often lifting her skirt to reveal her penis.
    *'''Venus''', the Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, also had gender variant aspects.'''Venus Barbata''', an aspect of the goddess Venus, grew a beard and dressed as a man in order to court a gay man. This deity was patron of sex workers and of socially taboo love and sex, particularly homosexuality.<ref>Raven Kaldera, Hermaphrodeities, p. 72-74.</ref> '''Venus Biformis''' was both male and female. Another aspect of Venus was '''Venus Castina''', who was associated with "the yearnings of feminine souls locked in male bodies."<ref>Bulliet, Clarence Joseph (1956). ''Venus Castina: Famous Female Impersonators, Celestial and Human''. Bonanza Books. Unpaged.</ref> Her followers included men who dressed as women, and she’s said to have turned some men into women.
    *'''Venus''', the Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, also had gender variant aspects.'''Venus Barbata''', an aspect of the goddess Venus, grew a beard and dressed as a man in order to court a gay man. This deity was patron of sex workers and of socially taboo love and sex, particularly homosexuality.<ref>Raven Kaldera, Hermaphrodeities, p. 72-74.</ref> Her followers included men who dressed as women, and she’s said to have turned some men into women.
    * '''Cybele''', a goddess who was in some interpretations both male and female. Her priestesses were trans-feminine eunuchs called [[Gallae]].
    * '''Cybele''', a goddess who was in some interpretations both male and female. Her priestesses were trans-feminine eunuchs called [[Gallae]].
    * '''Dionysus''' is a deity of wine, madness, vegetation, pleasure, and frenzy. His tradition is broadly reaching, so accounts do not agree on aspects of his gender. However, some popular accounts agree on certain aspects of his gender. Dionysus, by most accounts, was raised by nymphs on Mt. Nysa. There, he was raised as a woman. <ref> [https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/DionysosMyths.html#Birth] </ref> In most traditions, he is seen as effeminate, and sometimes is seen as changing gender. <ref> [https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/DionysosGod.html#Homosexuality] </ref>
    * '''Dionysus''' is a deity of wine, madness, vegetation, pleasure, and frenzy. His tradition is broadly reaching, so accounts do not agree on aspects of his gender. However, some popular accounts agree on certain aspects of his gender. Dionysus, by most accounts, was raised by nymphs on Mt. Nysa. There, he was raised as a woman. <ref> [https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/DionysosMyths.html#Birth] </ref> In most traditions, he is seen as effeminate, and sometimes is seen as changing gender. <ref> [https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/DionysosGod.html#Homosexuality] </ref>
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    See above (in the section organized by region) for more information about each of these figures, and what we know about them that makes them gender-variant.  
    See above (in the section organized by region) for more information about each of these figures, and what we know about them that makes them gender-variant.  


    ===Both male and female at the same time (including primal androgynes)===
    ===Both male and female at the same time===
    * Agdistis
    * Agdistis
    * Ardhanarisvara
    * Ardhanarisvara
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    * Mawu-Lisa
    * Mawu-Lisa
    * Mwari
    * Mwari
    * Mylitta
    * Nana-Buluku
    * Nana-Buluku
    * Obatala (Oxala, Blanc-Dani)
    * Obatala (Oxala, Blanc-Dani)
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    ===Transgender women, and/or changed sex (male to female)===
    ===Transgender women, and/or changed sex (male to female)===
    * Samba
    * Samba
    *Aphrodite
    *Inanna


    ===Eunuch (even if in only one out of many stories about this figure)===
    ===Eunuch (even if in only one out of many stories about this figure)===
    * Dionysus
    * Dionysus
    * Odin as Jalkr
    * Odin as Jalkr
    * Osiris
    * Ra
    * Set


    ===Female, usually but not always===  
    ===Female, usually but not always===  
    Figures that are usually female, but changed to male on occasion. Or sometimes described/interpreted as both. Or a male or both-gender aspect of a female goddess.
    Figures that are usually female, but changed to male on occasion. Or sometimes described/interpreted as both. Or a male or both-gender aspect of a female goddess.
    * Athena
     
    * Cybele
    * Cybele
    * Friga
    * Friga
    * Inanna
    * Inari Okami (Oinari)
    * Inari Okami (Oinari)
    * Kwanyin
    * Kwanyin
    * Venus Barbata (Venus Biformis, Aphrodite Urania)
    * Venus Barbata (Venus Biformis)


    ===Male, usually but not always===  
    ===Male, usually but not always===  
    Figures that are usually male, but changed to female on occasion. Or sometimes described/interpreted as both. Or a female or both-gender aspect of a male god.
    Figures that are usually male, but changed to female on occasion. Or sometimes described/interpreted as both. Or a female or both-gender aspect of a male god.
    * Adam (before the creation of Eve)  
    * Adam (before the creation of Eve)  
    * Adonis
    * Avalokiteśvara
    * Avalokiteśvara
    * Coyote
    * Coyote
    * Jehovah
    * Jehovah
    * Huehuecoyotl
    * Huehuecoyotl
    * Janus
    * Jesus Christ
    * Jesus Christ
    * Kwanyin
    * Kwanyin
    * Legba (Ellegua)
    * Legba (Ellegua)
    * Loki
    * Loki
    * Zeus Arrhenothelus


    ===Male, with noted feminine traits===
    ===Male, with noted feminine traits===
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    ===Female, with noted masculine traits===
    ===Female, with noted masculine traits===
    * Athena
     
    * Changing Woman
    * Changing Woman
    * Lilith
    * Lilith
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    ===Female, adopted male gender expression (such as clothing)===
    ===Female, adopted male gender expression (such as clothing)===
    * Athena
     
    * Joan of Arc, Saint
    * Marinus, Saint
    * Marinus, Saint
    * Neith
    * Neith
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