14. Safavid Empire, 16th through 18th centuries
Given the fiery anti-gay rhetoric of many Islamic leaders today, and the often brutal punishments meted out to homosexuals, it may be surprising to learn that the Muslim Safavid Empire was quite welcoming of homosexuality. The Safavid Empire lasted from roughly 1501 to 1723 and covered a territory of parts of present-day Iraq and Iran. Homosexuality was practiced in all levels of society, including the kings. Gender fluidity was also recognized and accepted, with cross-dressing performers called köçek serving as popular court entertainers. These dancers would wear feminine costumes and makeup and dance in a sexually provocative manner.
Sufi Islam was the dominant theological strain of the Safavid Empire, and many adherents believed the Qur’an had numerous passages that promoted tolerance to homosexuality. The prophet Muhammad was said to have had many gay friends, including two close friends whom he entrusted with the care of his tomb after his death. Erotic literature featuring homosexuality was also standard in the era, with The Encylopedia of Pleasure even highlighting a lesbian relationship between a Christian princess and a Muslim noblewoman. Sadly, the tolerance of the Safavid Empire ended after the British colonization of the Arab peninsula, as the Christian British were outraged by the open displays of homosexuality and quickly instituted harsh anti-sodomy laws throughout the region, some of which persist today.