How the Documentary Lover of Men Makes the Case That Abraham Lincoln Was Gay

As a historian with a deep interest in the complexities of human nature and the history of the United States, I find the documentary “Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln” to be a fascinating exploration of an aspect of our nation’s past that has long been overlooked. The evidence presented in the film, drawn from letters, contemporary accounts, and scholarly interpretations, suggests a side of Lincoln that challenges traditional narratives about his personal life and sexuality.

Did the recently released documentary claim that Abraham Lincoln was not only America’s most distinguished president but also homosexual? Yes, according to the film.

“Abe Lincoln’s Heart: Unveiling an Untold Story,” opening in cinemas September 6, aspires to provide a comprehensive account of Abraham Lincoln’s sexual orientation. The documentary will present snippets from letters that are suggestive in nature, alongside insights from scholars specialized in Lincoln studies and historians focusing on 19th-century sexuality to help interpret these passages.

In the movie under discussion, scholars present the perspective that the past U.S. president, who guided the nation through the Civil War, grappled with an identity dilemma during his lifetime. This was because he was married, a necessity to further his political career at the time, but he also had romantic connections with men. Note that this film is unrelated to the current Broadway play, “Oh, Mary!”, which portrays Lincoln as a secretly gay man.

During Lincoln’s time, it was commonly known that he had intimate relationships with men, which was not deemed surprising or scandalous by society. This is according to John Stauffer, an academic specializing in English and African and African American Studies, as presented in the documentary.

Here’s an explanation as to why some scholars suggest that Abraham Lincoln may have had close, non-platonic relationships with men, and why this theory isn’t more widely recognized.

Tracing all of the evidence that Lincoln loved men

It’s generally believed that Billy Greene, who taught Lincoln grammar upon his arrival in New Salem, Illinois in 1831 when he was 22 years old, was Lincoln’s first romantic interest. For nearly 18 months, they lived together on a shared bed, and at one point, Greene wrote in a letter that Lincoln’s “legs were as flawless as a person could possibly have.

In the movie, scholars suggest that Joshua Speed, the owner of a general store in Springfield, Illinois, may have been Lincoln’s closest companion. When Lincoln, a young lawyer, moved there in 1837, he was directed to Speed’s store for materials to construct a bed. Despite having the means to secure his own accommodation later on, Lincoln continued to share a bed with Speed for four years.

In the movie, their letters serve as evidence that they shared a deeply close and affectionate bond. Abraham Lincoln himself referred to his connection with Speed as “unmatched,” stating, “No two men were ever closer.” William Herndon, Lincoln’s associate in law, and even Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham’s son, used the term “intimate” when describing their relationship. Abraham would often end letters to Speed by saying, “Yours Always.

As a movie buff, I’d rephrase that statement as follows: “I, personally, believe that Abraham Lincoln had a romantic relationship with Joshua Speed, based on my research and analysis of their correspondence, as put forth by Stauffer.

Nevertheless, the marriage between them ended due to the contention that, according to many scholars, Lincoln needed a politically advantageous spouse like Mary Todd Lincoln, whom he wed in 1842, to further his political career, as she was from an affluent family.

Stauffer explains that there’s no proof that Mary Todd was aware of Abraham Lincoln’s intimate relationship with Joshua Speed, but such behavior wasn’t unusual among high-profile figures. In fact, many well-known men were known to engage in sexual relations with other men and still have successful marriages.

According to the documentary, even after getting married, having children, and assuming the presidency, Lincoln maintained close relationships with other men. One such individual was Elmer Ellsworth, whom he admired greatly during his first year as president. Lincoln went so far as to write to the War Department twice in an attempt to promote Ellsworth to colonel over several more experienced West Point graduates. Unfortunately, Ellsworth was killed on May 24, 1861, in Alexandria, Virginia, while trying to remove a Confederate flag from a hotel rooftop. The scholars in the film describe Lincoln as deeply affected by this loss, noting that it was unusual for a president to be so emotionally attached to a young Union Army officer.

During the summer of 1862, I found solace in a cottage situated just a few miles from the White House. This humble abode was famously known as the birthplace of the Emancipation Proclamation’s outline. In the movie, scholars have pointed out two accounts suggesting that I shared a bed with my bodyguard, David Derickson. A letter dated November 16, 1862, from Virginia Woodbury Fox, a member of an influential military family, mentioned a soldier in the cottage who was exceptionally devoted to me and often slept beside me. Similarly, a historical account of the regiment that protected me stated that during Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln’s absence, Derickson would sleep in my bed, wearing my nightshirt. Dr. Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, proposed that my bond with Ellsworth and Derickson likely helped me endure the numerous hardships of the Civil War.

Why Lincoln’s sexuality isn’t more well-known

One reason why Lincoln’s sexuality is rarely discussed is due to the strong stigma surrounding homosexuality in the 20th century. The idea of eugenics was widely accepted, and homosexuality was often considered a mental illness. Many religious figures labeled it as immoral or sinful. Consequently, numerous states enacted laws criminalizing homosexual relationships, which were not repealed until the 1960s.

That said, letters between Speed and Lincoln have been in the Library of Congress for decades. Scholars of queer history have been talking about Lincoln’s sexuality since the 1970s, when a new LGBTQ+ movement was underway. “Just as the gay liberation movement is underway, there’s a scholarly interest in finding gay people in the past,” says Balcerski.

Notable contributions to the subject are “Love Stories: Pre-Homosexual Encounters among Men” (2003) by Jonathan Ned Katz and “The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln” (2005) by C.A. Tripp. In a TIME magazine cover story discussing new research about Lincoln for July 4, 2005, it was pointed out that men sharing beds in the mid-19th century was as common and unexceptional as men living together in houses or apartments in the early 21st century. Since there weren’t specific labels for this behavior at the time, men could express affection towards each other physically and verbally without defining themselves by it.

As a film enthusiast, I find it fascinating that the release of this documentary about Lincoln’s possible queer identity comes at a time when many conservative states are enacting anti-transgender laws and censoring books featuring openly queer characters in schools. According to Stauffer, this is an opportune moment for this film because sexuality is increasingly relevant in our cultural discourse, shaping not only politics but also education and personal lives. With more entertainers publicly identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community and the internet connecting us with like-minded individuals, the visibility and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations are becoming more prevalent than ever.

Filmmakers aspire that those able to perceive Lincoln as having same-sex attraction may also become more open towards other individuals identifying as LGBTQ+. On the other hand, Balcerski advises against categorizing Lincoln, but suggests instead, “we can contend that Lincoln’s affections extended to men.

2024-09-06 22:06