Scamp

Larry Kramer says he has the evidence to prove it.
Was Lincoln gay?
Another book claiming Lincoln was a homosexual.


The Washington Post has been running these stories as part of their series on the 150th anniversary of the war...

2. Lincoln was gay
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR201102...

Disclaimer...

The above post is meant for historical discussion only. The above post is not meant to insult, offend, or make fun of gay people; No judgement of these people's deviant behavior is to be implied. Furthermore, the above poster accepts no responsibility if any of the members of this site are offended or have their feelings hurt.

Ri Fhionngaill

What is the obsession with declaring - often on the scantiest evidence - that any historical figure of significance was gay or bisexual? PC revisionism, if you ask me.

betgo

The following words from the Confederate song "Riding a Raid" may be a reference to this.
Lincoln probably had sex with his wife, but there are pretty good indications he was involved with men. Buchanan was gay too and Eleanor Roosevelt was bi.

botully

Based on the evidence, to whit:
Had at least one other female love in his youth.
Was married with several children.

Obviously gay, and a vampire hunter.

avon

Did it matter then? Does it matter now?

diddyriddick

I'm with Avon here.

Having said that, there is not a shred of proof that Lincoln was gay. No letters to contemporaries. No eye-witness accounts. And strikingly, no accusations from any of his opponents or the media.

All that we do have is that Lincoln slept in the same bed with his law partner and other lawyers. And we know from other sources that this was a common practice of the times.

It's just more smear tactics of petty revisionists who have nothing better to do.

betgo

There is plenty on this. At the time people would not directly and publically discuss such things. Doubt it is just a smear.

tjadams

I will be the first to hold Lincoln's feet to a court of inquiry on all
manner of declarations and abuses. But, there is nothing solidly
with any evidence, I don't care the author's wall decoration degrees,
that proves Lincoln was gay. It is bunk and a cheap low tactic to
sell a book. It should be tiresome by now to keep writing this
theory with no hard evidence having ever been produced. Lincoln has
a right to say none exists either.

DreamWeaver

Usual discussion of relative historical homosociality vs homosexuality

Earl_of_Rochester

Let's try and look at the evidence from a historical perspective.

1.) He was a farm boy in his youth.
2.) He wrestled other men 'Clary's Grove Boys'.
3.) He had questionable facial hair and wore bow ties.
4.) He didn't like hunting.
5.) He openly admits to admiring and defending strong black men (slaves).

I think this is enough information to conclude that he was a gay. When he first entered politics he was quite poor so he probably rented his bottom out to gentlemen who enjoyed musicals and knew what colour indigo was.

Rumour has it Churchill was a closet sponge too, all that time out on the Northwest Frontier surrounded by manly men, makes you wonder...