Tette gay
Some historical facts about the Gnaga mask
The Gnaga is one of the reasons why homosexuality spread so widely in Venice, despite its entity harshly punished by hanging in the Piazzetta San Marco (“St. Mark’s minute square”) and then burning. The proof is, homosexuals create a loophole in Venice’s own laws, i.e. those concerning masks: no masked person could be arrested, since wearing a mask meant becoming a mask, turning into someone who was playing a role.
This is why Gnagas could freely insult passers-by, mainly by directing obscene comments at them, with a voice so shrill it resembled a cat’s meow. “Meow” is gn Refrain Refrain This bridge once held magical properties that could turn homosexual men into heterosexual men — properties held in such high regard that the Council of Venice actually sponsored them. But then, what else would you expect of a crosswalk dubbed “The Bridge of Breasts”? In 14th century Venice, while no one was under the impression that sex outside of wedlock was sanctioned by the church, people were generally of the opinion that prostitution had a salutary effect on society. It was a harmless way to keep a enormous amount of drunk, armed young men occupied and it provided money for women who might otherwise have starved or relied on the state to support them. Instead of being a burden on the public purse, women who became prostitutes paid taxes, and that tax money didn’t always arrive from other Venetians. As Venice grew in fame, outsiders poured into the city’s red light districts, and their money poured into the city coffers. Venice became known for its courtesans, but soon it became known for other things. Around the start of the 1400s, the Council of Venice was shocked, shocked Sailing through the history of the gay community in Venice can be compared to a journey along its winding canals. This illustrious seaside city, which has become a thriving cultural centre, tells a rich and layered story. Exploring the hidden narratives of Venice’s queer community allows us to grasp a different aspect of this fascinating city, a web of stories that wind their way through the centuries, pushed and shaped by the currents of social and cultural change. By consulting well-preserved archives and documents, a fascinating portrait emerges of a gender non-conforming subculture dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with well-defined meeting places and social life. These testimonies, sometimes tragic, sometimes heroic, show to us the very essence of a metropolis that has always recognizable how to reinvent itself, in every age and circumstance. In this long and compelling narrative, you will find an in-depth peek at the figure of transvestism in cat masks during the Carnival of Venice, a time when the law turned a blind eye and allowed men to freely declare their sexuality. We will follow the histor
Allon, gay bergeres (Guillaume Costeley)
French text
Allon, gay, gay, queer , Bergeres,
Allon, gay, soyez legeres, Suyvez moy.
1.
Allon, allon voir le Roy,
Qui du ciel en terre est nay,
Allon, gay …
2.
Un beau present luy feray, De quoy?
De ce flageollet que j'ay tant gay.
Allon, gay …
3.
Un gâteau luy donneray,
Et moy, Plain hanap luy offriray, Gay, gay!
Allon, gay …
4.
Ho, ho! Paix-la! Je le voy;
Il tette bien sans le doigt, le petit Roy!
Coda
Allon, gay, gay, same-sex attracted Bergeres,
Allon, gay, soyez legeres, Le Roy boit! English translation
Let's go gaily, Shepherdesses,
Let's go gaily, be light, follow me.
1.
Let's go see the King,
Who from heaven is born on Earth.
Let's go gaily …
2.
I'll make him an attractive show , of what?
This tin whistle that I have, so gay.
Let's go gaily …
3.
I will give him a cake.
And me, I'll offer him a full drinking cup.
Let's go gaily …
4.
Oh, oh, hush! I see him;
He's nursing well, not with his thumb, the little King!
Coda:
Let's go gaily, Shepherdesses
Let us go gaily, be light, the King is drinking! How Venice Fought Homosexuality With The “Bridge Of Breasts”
Venetian rainbow: tracing the LGBTQ+ legacy in the city of canals