We’re Queer, We’re Here—And We’ve Always Been Here

Queerness Has Always Existed

Whether you approach it from a religious, scientific, or cultural perspective, one truth remains: queer people have always been here.

From a religious standpoint, God has often been described as non-binary. In many Christian texts, God is referred to using plural pronouns (they/them), and in Genesis, Eve can be interpreted as the first trans woman—created from Adam’s rib, transitioning from one form to another. The concept of androgynous or non-binary divinity is also present in other religions. Hinduism, for example, embraces deities like Ardhanarishvara, a half-male, half-female representation of Shiva and Parvati, symbolizing the fluidity of gender.

From an evolutionary perspective, the first life forms on Earth reproduced asexually for about 2 billion years. Gender and biological sex as we know them today came much later. Many species even now exhibit gender fluidity, from clownfish that change sexes to animals with both male and female reproductive systems.

Culturally, multiple genders have existed throughout history and have often been celebrated. The hijras of South Asia have been recognized for centuries as a distinct gender. Indigenous North American cultures have long honored Two-Spirit people—those who embody both masculine and feminine spirits. Ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Greek societies had gender-diverse roles, and same-sex relationships were common and accepted in many civilizations.

History Erased But Not Forgotten

Despite centuries of celebration, colonialism and religious dogma attempted to erase queerness from history. European imperialism imposed strict binary gender roles and outlawed same-sex relationships in many cultures where they had once been accepted. But history cannot be rewritten—queer people were here long before colonial borders were drawn, and we’re still here now.

Queerness is not new. It is not a trend. It is woven into the very fabric of human existence. Whether looking at religious texts, evolutionary biology, or ancient cultures, one fact remains:

We’re queer. We’re here. And we’ve always been here.