Romo-sexuals

With the rise of the Roman Empire came the first recorded gay marriages. What, you say? They first gay marriages weren't performed in Massachusetts in 2004? Well then, the first gay marriage was certainly in California, 1964. Wrong again? Yep.

The first gay marriages were recorded sometime around 27 A.D., during the reign of Augustus of Rome. In 54 A.D, Nero became Emperor, and was reported to have married at least 2 men. The first, a boy named Sporus, was castrated by Nero in an attempt to make him a woman. They were married with all the usual ceremonies, including a dowry and a bridal veil. The second man Nero married was his freed slave, Doryphorus. In their relationship, Nero was the 'bride', going so far as to imitate the cries of a virgin on her wedding night. Gross. I'm sorry I typed that, but it's true.

In 218 A.D., Elagabalus began his reign as Emperor. He married an athlete named Zoiticus in a public ceremony in Rome. He was said to be very fond of being called the Queen of Hierocles, and went so far as to offer vast sums of money for a doctor who could perform a sex change operation on him.

And this ends our early period of gay tolerance.Aside for a few exceptions, the next 1500 years of history are very homophobic.