[File:Societal attitudes towards homosexuality 2013.svg|thumb|450px|Pew Global Attitudes Project 2013: "Which one of these comes closer to your opinion, number 1 or number 2?: #1 – Homosexuality should be accepted by society, #2 – Homosexuality should not be accepted by society". Percentage of responders who were in favor of #1: ]]
Societal attitudes toward homosexuality vary greatly in different cultures and different historical periods, as do attitudes toward sexual desire, activity and relationships in general. All cultures have their own
values regarding appropriate and inappropriate sexuality; some sanction
same-sex love and sexuality, while others may disapprove of such activities in part. As with
heterosexual behaviour, different sets of prescriptions and proscriptions may be given to individuals according to their
gender, age,
social status and/or
social class.