The Boundless Divine: Queer Historiography, Liminality, and Transcendence in Global Mythologies

This article explores the rich tapestry of queer identities and gender variance woven throughout global mythological traditions. Through a queer historiographical lens, this study examines five foundational myths from diverse cultural contexts—Greco-Roman, Norse, Hindu, Mesopotamian, and Native American—demonstrating how ancient civilizations recognized, honored, and derived power from gender non-conforming identities. The analysis foregrounds the concepts of liminality and transcendence as analytical frameworks for understanding how these mythic narratives functioned both as spiritual teachings and as social acknowledgments of the spectrum of human identity. By humanizing these ancient stories and situating them within their cultural matrices, this article argues that contemporary LGBTQ+ communities possess deep ancestral roots stretching back to humanity's earliest spiritual expressions. The article concludes that reclaiming these myths is not merely an academic exercise but an act of cultural reclamation and empowerment.