" 
 :::: They reject ALL sexuality, homo or hetero - hence the term ""Sworn Virgins"".  The social convention was apparently a response to a chronic shortage of men in Balkan society due to incessant, lethal feuding - it permitted women to renounce all sexual expression and take on the social roles of men, including smoking, drinking, playing certain musical instruments and probably most importantly, taking stereotypical male occupations in society such as blacksmith or weapons manufacturer. Althouth in some cases there may be a transgender proclivity in some who take advantage of this opportunity to switch gender roles in general, it is an asexual societal position: all sexual expression is forsworn, operationally neutering the participants.  Doesn't seem to belong in a general article on homosexuality at all. - User QuantumDriel."