There were several indigenous populations of North America that had more same sex sexual behavior such as the two-spirit or at the time what the Europeans named the "berdache" which were anatomical males who lived and dressed as women and had sex with other men. Recently some historians have argued that their role was as "sexual servicers to a community's male elite... [because] they had violated social norms or had been captured in war."

The Catholic church generally viewed all sexual expression as being sinful whereas protestants thought that sex and sexuality were acceptable when confined to marriage. However, neither believed that what we know called homosexual sex and sexuality was permissible and sodomy was a capital offense throughout the European colonies in north America. While executions rare with only 6 men being killed for sodomy throughout the European colonies of North America there were other punishments such as banishment, whipping, and branding.

An interesting aspect of punishments for homosexual activity, and one that continued for a couple of centuries, was that men were much more likely to be punished for sex with someone of the same gender. English colonists generally thought of sex between two women as being the result of "hermaphroditism" or in modern terms being intersex. Only New Haven specifically made sex between women against the law. However, the only two women brought before New England Colonial courts for same sex sex was for lewd behavior. Also Puritan religious leaders said male-male sex and female-female sex were equally sinful.

The historian Richard Godbeer thinks that the common person was more accepting of homosexual behavior than the courts or religious leaders because of how few people were brought before the courts, suggesting that many cases occurred without being reported to the authorities. This might be especially true when taking into account of the gender imbalances in some of the colonies such as in the Chesapeake where there were only one woman for every four men.

Enlightenment ideas help to reduce some of the state's control over sexual behavior as well as to a more liberal understanding of sexual gratification, but sodomy remained outlined despite the reasoning behind these laws shifting from religious arguments to arguments that same sex sexuality could destabilize society.

One really interesting thing about the eighteenth century is the emergence of the "heroic friend." During the enlightenment there was an increased respect for extremely close, affectionate male friendships. These were well educated, upper class men who felt strong bonds with another man. Often these would result in romantic or even erotic letters and thoughts and words and actions, but to say they were gay would be difficult, nonetheless there were probably some heroic friendships that resulted in same sex sexual behavior.

I hope that helped. If you have anymore specific questions or follow ups, or an additional question I might be able to help, although I will be slow to respond. My source was Interpreting LBGT History at Museums and Historic Sites by the wonderful Susan Ferentinos