History Fact - the term “faggot”

the term “faggot”

theastrarium

“Arthur Evans, in Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture, suggests the term “faggot”, used to refer to queer individuals, originates from these persecutions. A faggot is a bundle of sticks, used for kindling. Faggots are used in cooking and home fires, and were used in the burning of heretics. When the words “faggot” and “flaming faggot” are used to refer to homosexuals, it is a reference to the Burning Times. Academics have strongly argued against this point, but in any case, it makes one think about the etymology of such slurs. “Faggot” and “fairy” possibly have a connection, as the root word, fagus, refers to the mythic ruler of the beech trees (a source of kindling), who devolved with the pagan faiths into a tree spirit, or fairy. What was once a derogatory remark is now a title claimed by gay men on a pagan spiritual journey. Evans suggest some historical records equate heresy with homosexuality. In the historical records, it is often unclear if someone is being accuse of witchcraft or homosexuality. A popular defense against the charge of heresy was to show a wife and child to prove one wasn’t gay.”

― Christopher Penczak
Gay Witchcraft: Empowering The Tribe