A Personal Tao

My initial personal reaction is:

It doesn't matter what Taoism or any other religion says about homosexual behavior. Religion doesn't stop people from being people. People will always contain in their nature: all the Yin Yang aspects of humanity itself. Some people will embrace with acceptance homosexual activity as being natural. Others will find homosexual activity to be a threat to their own ego, their own sense of self, and hence attack the behavior.

Some people will embrace a religion just to support their personal views and justify their feelings as right or wrong. Taoism steps away from this and reminds us we are human first. That in being human, we will have this wide range of nature to accept. This isn't a religious issue no matter what anyone says... homosexuality is an interpersonal issue. People are always people for both good and bad... Learn to understand people, not religion, to help find a peaceful answers to such questions. Taoism is a practice of acceptance. It's not for Taoism to define how you accept homosexuality. It's a personal issue for finding wholeness.

Some questions such as acceptance of homosexuality are rooted in ego in scope. Ego based questions cannot be answered from a universal perspective: despite ego's insistence that it's universal in nature. So in the end, "ego" based questions must be answered by each person. Giving a general answer would actually create interpersonal conflict. To a Taoist this problem is easily avoided by leaving the question unanswered from a larger perspective. To recognize this question is personal in scope for each individual to balance in their life.

Taoist practice teaches a person how to only embrace ego lightly. So while Taoism doesn't answer the question directly, Taoist practice resolves the  "homosexuality & religion" question into not mattering.

This is very important and has implications for many other questions.

Taoism Teaches:

Not every question should have an answer.

When this answer bothers a person, then it's a sign that their ego is working against issues which are personally hard to find acceptance towards. Such feelings indicate a personal internal conflict deeper than the question itself. In fact this is often why a person seeks an universal answer to this question: as a means to end some deeper personal conflict. To move the issue outside of the internal realm to find final absolution or solutions outside their own nature.  There are many paths to finding answers to our personal dilemmas.

Now let's answer this from a Taoist Perspective based on history.

If Taoism is a practice of acceptance, this means that one's sexual preferences are their own. Its fine to be who you are and no one has the "right" to tell you how you should be. So in this sense Taoism ignores the question of homosexuality and leaves it to each person to decide for themselves.

However: from a traditional aspect... many Taoist practices limit sexual exchange. Historically many Taoist practices frowned upon any sex in general since it reduced ones vitality and distracted a person from immortal development. However some Taoist off shoots believed in sex to exchange energy... I suspect mainstream historical Taoist sects would officially be upset over homosexual activities... however, they would also claim so not because it's sex between same sex partners, but because sex in general is considered a distraction. Also you would have to consider going outside a traditional Yin Yang (male/female) balance would upset some Taoists. Also some Taoist sects believe in holding sperm so any sex: male or female would be wrong.

So the actual answer could depend on which Taoist Master you ask, since the final answer depends upon the sect of Taoism you are from and how the Master felt the balance of nature between people should best be fulfilled in terms of Yin Yang considerations.

My final answer would be this: .

You are what you are... .

Homosexuality or any sexual orientation actually doesn't enter this statement at all on purpose. Because you are human, you define yourself not others. Don't beat yourself senseless over what your desires are or your nature. To do so limits your nature and prevents you from becoming enlightened. Learn to limit desires and work towards acceptance of your nature and the larger universe as a whole. So a person is what they are no matter what sexual orientation they are naturally. If the sexual orientation is due to others forcing you to be that way, then it's wrong, since it has been forced upon you. The more important point is to keep sex in moderation. Keep attachment and desire from preventing you from discovering your larger nature since otherwise it distracts your potential in exploring all the possibilities.

However right and wrong doesn't always factor in real behavior... people will hurt each other for the stupidest reasons... so always tread carefully, the less you project outwards the less others can hurt you.