In the not-so-distant past, homosexuals and other sexual and social deviants were relegated to the fringes of society, in much the same way as the werewolf inhabited the fringes of civilized space. At one time homosexuals “lurked” at the fringes of society in back-alley bars or cruised for sex at night in public parks, bathrooms, and other such places. We were portrayed as victims to our own natures at best and more likely as sexual predators. Even worse, we were considered (and still are by some) as sinners or the damned who made a choice to become some “evil” thing. Compare this to the ways one is believed to become a werewolf. Some are born werewolves, others become werewolves because they are bitten (bitten can also be a metaphor for sexual intercourse), some are cursed, and yet others choose to become werewolves through enacting certain spells, rituals, or charms. The nature versus nurture versus deliberate choice debate rages on.
Attitudes are changing and LGBTQ+ folks are no longer believed victims or predators – for the most part. Modern depictions of werewolves are changing too. He retains his humanity and reasoning abilities and often uses his wolf traits to help others or to fight against creatures and forces darker and more malevolent than himself. The werewolf as a positive archetype is empowered, loyal to the pack, assertive, and intelligent. Modern werewolves may still go through the stages of denial and then acceptance similar to the stages an LGBTQ+ person goes through when coming to terms with their sexuality. But in the end their werewolfism becomes an empowering force in their lives. These newer werewolves typically retain their human nature and reasoning abilities. Unlike werewolves of old who were victims to their werewolf nature, these new werewolves don’t go around harming, killing, and eating the innocent. Often, they use their werewolfism as a force for good – either the good of their pack or for the good of society at large. Their pack can be their family of birth or their family of choice, after all love and loyalty make a family.