Gay Tarot Deck and Guidebook by Lee Bursten

The universal symbols of relationships, i.e.: yin and yang, man and woman, is substituted here by archetypes and situations form the experience and identity of gay/homosexual people.

“I believe gay men deserve a tarot deck which can provide a non-threatening venue in which to explore issues of relationship and of how to deal with a society whose attitudes toward homosexuality range from indifference to hostility” Lee Bursten

Creating an all-male gay tarot deck may seem like an odd thing to do. There are of course many “theme” decks which are currently available, most of them based on various ethnic or cultural traditions. Another category is the feminist deck, in which most or all of the people pictured are women. The creators weren’t trying to specifically exclude men, but rather wanted to create a safe haven where women in general or lesbians in particular could comfortable explore their identities, using a tool designed specifically for them.

As an oppressed minority, often in danger of losing jobs, homes, freedom or even lives because of sexual identity, Lee believes gay men deserve a tarot deck which can provide a non-threatening venue in which to explore issues of relationship and of how to deal with a society whose attitudes toward homosexuality range from indifference to hostility.

It is for this reason that the Gay Tarot Deck and Guidebook, like many of the feminist decks, emphasises themes of self-reliance, self-esteem, and a positive self-image. However, there are still cards which can suggest the negative sides of life; such cards are necessary if a reading is to provide a helpful yet honest answer to a question.

In most traditional decks, the concept of relationship (between two people or between different sides of ourselves) is always represented by a heterosexual couple, a symbol which is all-pervasive, for obvious reasons.

Yet for gay people, this image does not carry the same symbolic weight as it does for straight people, for the simple reason that it does not reflect their experience. Thus, a deck which uses same-sex couples to represent the concept of relationship will feel more natural to the gay reader.