The Queer Thing About Sin

In the ancient world, queer love, same-sex relationships and LGBTQ+ identities were not always condemned. In early ancient Greece, love between men was honoured, female desire was celebrated in poetry, and lifelong same-sex partnerships could flourish without shame. Yet over the centuries, these attitudes changed dramatically, giving rise to ideas that continue to shape modern society.

In this compelling work of ancient history, LGBTQ+ history and cultural history, Harry Tanner traces the origins of homophobia across the ancient Mediterranean. Drawing on classical texts, historical evidence and the lives of remarkable individuals, he uncovers how prejudice emerged—not as an inevitable truth, but as a product of political upheaval, religious transformation, social inequality and cultural change.

Travelling from Ancient Greece and Rome through the wider Mediterranean world, Tanner reveals how fear, inequality and rigid ideas of morality gradually reshaped attitudes towards sexuality and gender. He shows how these beliefs became embedded in Western religion, law and ideology, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the present day.

Richly researched and vividly written, this powerful history challenges long-held assumptions about the past while offering fresh insight into the enduring struggle for equality, acceptance and human dignity. It is both an illuminating exploration of antiquity and a timely reflection on the forces that continue to shape debates around identity and inclusion today.