>>40211969>long-lived cult of deification of a gay person exists for hundreds of years without being persecutedNot persecuting a minor cult is not synonymous with broad acceptance of homosexual behavior. Acceptance would look like homosexual behavior being normalized broadly in society. Even if Antinous was deified explicitly for being a flamer (he wasn't, homosexuality as a stable identity did not exist until the 19th century), a small cult on the outskirts of society that worshipped him for this is NOT broad social acceptance.
>his sexual stuff was just brought up because it was lurid gossipAnd it was "lurid gossip" because to be a man who regularly had sex with other men was considered abnormal and disgraceful.
>btw they thought he was weird cause he was a tranny, not cause he was gayThey thought he was weird because he was a bottom. Because he married men. Because he wanted to transition. They executed him because he behaved in a non-heteronormative way.