In UK, £over 500m is spent on Valentine Day gifts. Valentine Day the second-most popular greeting card giving occasion.
Many have written about gay love; Sappho, inspired by Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, had a female following, many believe she was a lesbian, and has a Greek island, Lesvos after her. Sadly, Lesvos with its lesbian inference doesn’t sit too happily with the modern non-gay population on the island!
Historically, you can trace gay love through art and culture in almost all societies; Roman, Chinese, Greek, Persian, Indian the list goes on. Gay love of course we know isn’t about with whom you end up in bed, but about intense feelings of love, passion, emotions, often over a lifetime. What is interesting is that this expression of same sex love was actually far more common and less of a taboo in those days, than it is today!
We have more than one reason to celebrate Valentine Day! Ironically going backward in history for this purpose is quite positive! Much like the young Romans, or poets who lived their lives then, we too can now lead fuller lives and have equal marriage rights. We can share not just our bed, but celebrate our love, publicly for someone of the same sex!
As Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” And that applies to everyone, gay, straight, or however we choose to love.