Tahiti, Oceania

Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is an overseas territory of France. The Lonely Planet guide says Tahiti and her Islands are gay friendly: "There are no networks or associations for gays in French Polynesia but French Laws prevail and there is no legal discrimination against homosexual activity. Homophobia in French Polynesia is uncommon." Research reveals ancient traditions of the 'mãhu. a transvestic tradition that included homosexual practices with nontransvestic males. But this indigenous pattern of the mãhu is not equivalent to Western subcultural homosexuality or Western transvestism; it was an integrated part of the wider Tahitian culture.