On OP’s point about homosexuality in Rome specifically, you’re thinking of the Greeks. Homosexuality in Rome was taboo, except as a form of domination between an owner and his slaves. E: an older man and a young man he had power over

That’s Greek. The dynamic of an older man and a younger man of equal social status was taboo in Roman society, while it was acceptable in Greek society. For the Romans, there was a power dynamic involved, as the bottom was ‘submitting’ to the top, in the same way that a wife submitted to her husband. As such, it was considered unacceptable for anyone seeking political or military office as an offense against the duties inherent in citizenship (of maintaining one’s sovereignty and power over their body), but for those citizens not seeking political or military office it was largely irrelevant, and for noncitizens, it was considered acceptable.

For this reason, actors, who were excluded from political life despite being free citizens, were considered an acceptable sexual partner for Roman citizens.