What if a 19th century gay rights movement

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

Presume that sometime in the mid or late 19th century we have some nutcase come up with the idea that the 'inferior' are self selecting themselves out of the gene pool with homosexualtiy and therefore homosexuals need to tolerated in mainstream society in order for them to not be pressured to breed/have children. Also presume that this nutcase manages to get the ear of influential power elite types in various european/american political groups.

Does anything change in the world with an earlier acceptance of homosexuality in the west? I'd imagine we'd see more acceptence of this theory in protestant nations(protestantism isn't as focused on continuity of docrine) than in catholic nations.

Before you guys lynch me for 'non plausibiltiy' remember that the premise for scientific racism or eugenics is just as flimsy(this could tie into eugenics with some of the 'unfit' being homosexuals and voluntarily decides to breed). Also remember that western society pretty much ignores the other laws stated in leviticus(not eating shellfish and wearing 2 different types of fabric in clothes).

[J. J.]

I think it would hard to claim Oscar Wilde was "inferior."

[TomC]

I think it would hard to claim Oscar Wilde was "inferior."

Oh, but they tried.

[afleitch]

Somebody did. His name was Jeremy Bentham the liberal and utilitarian. He also supported animal rights, divorce and free trade quite a radical 'classical liberal' for his day. Sadly it took until the 20th century for people to really listen to him. Sodomy laws only entered the statute in the UK towards the tail end of the 19th century and there were pressures to repeal them just 50 years later. It would be likely that sodomy would never be criminalised during this era in the UK and elsewhere and would be tolerated (as indeed it was done privately) in the influentual families of the day. US states would probably still enforce such laws in the states you'd expect.