The Recent Earthquakes in Haiti

My prayers go out to those who lost their lives and homes in the recent earthquakes in Haiti. Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country with more than half of its citizens living below the poverty line. 80 percent of its population practices Roman Catholicism and half of the population practices Vodou.

Vodou is a syncretic religion practiced in Haiti and New Orleans. They believe in a single creator God known as Bondye. Since Bondye is considered unreachable, they focus their attentions on the Lwa, or lesser gods and goddesses who are subordinate to Bondye. The Lwa can be divided into 21 nations including the Petwo and Rada. The Petwo are hot, restless and aggressive, whereas the Rada are cool, calm, and peaceful. Each of the Lwa are represented by a particular saint.

Homosexuality is not considered a sin. On the contrary, gays are considered to have been the victim of a joke being played upon them by the gods. Their patron Lwa are members of the Ezili family, With gay men having the patron Ezili Freda and lesbians having the patron Ezili Danto.

Ezili Danto is bisexual. She had her tongue cut out during the Haitian revolution and cannot speak. Ezili Freda is straight, she prefers sweet wines, silk dresses, and perfumes. She speaks French. I myself have been possessed by her. At the end of the possession she cries. Men possessed by her will crossdress.