Haitian Vodou and sexual orientation

[1] However, in West African countries with major conservative Christian and Islamic views on LGBTQ people, the attitudes towards them may be less tolerant if not openly hostile and these influences are reflected in African diaspora religions following Atlantic slave trade which includes Haitian Vodou.

The documentary "Des hommes et dieux" presents interviews with several people who feel Erzulie Freda made them gay.

[6] Erzulie Dantor is seen as the patron of lesbians,[5] although she is herself bisexual[citation needed] having a number of children and two husbands, Simbi Makaya and Ti Jean Petwo, though she is said to prefer the company of women.

[8] During Haitian Vodou ceremonies, the houngans (priests), mambos (priestesses), and hounsis (initiates) dance around a potomitan until one of them becomes possessed by one of the lwa.

Reverend Severina KM Singh, a New Orleans Voodoo priestess explains,[10]I have gay friends who practice and I can personally attest to the closeness of the loa to them.

These lwa may be regarded as families of individuals or as a singular entity with distinct aspects, with links to particular areas of life.

He is sometimes depicted as an effeminate drag queen and inspires those he inhabits to lascivious sexuality of all kinds, especially transgender or lesbian behaviour in women.

Samedi has a tendency toward "lascivious movements" that cross gender boundaries and also imply a lust for anal sex.

Erzulie can manifest aspects that are LGBT-related, including transgender or amazonian traits, in addition to traditionally feminine guises.