Zoroastrianism and sexual orientation

Homosexuality in Zoroastrianism is, as in many other religions, a controversial topic.

Homosexuality in scripture

The most sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism is called the Avesta. The oldest portion of the Avesta are the writings of Zarathustra himself and called the Gathas.

However, most Zoroastrians of Asia accept the entire Avesta as their religious guide, including the Vendidad, a collection of 22 Fargards or precepts concerned with religious purity and moral codes. The traditional Zoroastrians argue that the Vendidad was always an inherent part of Zoroastrian oral tradition, only compiled later than other parts of the Avesta.

The man that lies with mankind as man lies with womankind, or as woman lies with mankind, is a man that is a Daeva [demon]; this man is a worshipper of the Daevas, a male paramour of the Daevas

This passage has been interpreted to mean that homosexuality is a form of demon worship, and thus sinful. Ancient commentary on this passage suggests that those engaging in sodomy could be killed without permission from the Dastur.

Zoroastrianism has been said to have a "hatred of male anal intercourse", reflected in at least one mythological tale. When Ahriman, the "Spirit of Aridity and Death" and "Lord of Lies", sought to destroy the world, he engaged in self-sodomy. This homosexual self intercourse caused an "explosion of evil power" and resulted in the birth of a host of evil minions.

Apart from the Vendidad, the Pahlavi scriptures, later religious Persian books considered sacred by many Zoroastrians, also strongly forbid sodomy.

Bisexual Zoroastrians

Two noted bisexual Zoroastrians have been the rock star Freddie Mercury and Swedish pop star Alexander Bard.

External links

• AVESTA: Vendidad: FARGARD 8. Funerals and purification, unlawful sex
• religioustolerance.org – The Zoroastrian Faith and Homosexuality
• Iranica.com – Homosexuality