Was Abraham Lincoln Gay? There's evidence.?

Question

I recently toured New Salem Village in Springfield with Lincoln's house and other historic buildings. There are mentionings of a mysteriously close friend of his named Joshua Speed. When Abe was 28 years old, he and Speed shared a single bed for 4 years. When Joshua later married, Abe asked Joshua in secret letters if he was okay in marrying in the "conditions" he was in. Hmmm makes you wonder...

source: http://archive.salon.com/books/it/1999/04/30/lincoln/

Answer 1

Interesting. I had not heard this before.

Answer 2

Lincoln was a poor struggling lawyer when they shared this bed. It was common practice for men to share beds back then.
He also shared a bed with his bodyguard during 2 yrs of Civil War. Bodyguard had 9 children. Letters back then were very flowery to everyone - I miss you, can't wait to be reunited & etc.
Lincoln had 4 sons if he was trying to pretend to not be gay one son would have done that. This was suggested by 2 areas - an author looking to sell book, & the gay community looking for a hero. Wrong president - look at the single one that was whispered about in his time.

Answer 3

No, that doesn't constitute any sort of evidence when you take the time period into account. It was common back then for 2 men to share a bed in the same house. In today's context, sure...that's weird and a bit creepy (unless you're gay, then go right ahead) but back then it wasn't unheard of. Speed wasn't "mysteriously close" either. Lincoln suffered bouts of what was then called "melancholia" which today is called "sever depression". Speed and his family helped Lincoln get through one of his worst bouts. Lincoln and Speed did have a very close friendship, and they did exchange affectionate letters, but again, in that time period, expressing your affections for a close Friend was common practice.

James Buchanan on the other hand........ "bachelor president"? Yeah, right.

Answer 4

Hmmn, Abey-boy did have a high, squeaky voice that we might associate with a stereotypically gay person today, but I am going to say that no, he was not gay. The reason I say this is because of his devotion to his wife Mary Todd Lincoln. Even when she went mad and got sick he stayed by her side unconditionally loving her.

Answer 5

I think it is possible that Abe was gay, but back in those days it wasnt uncommon for two men to share the same bed, It was something that was just excepted back then. But you are right their are other thing that do make you question his sexual preferance.

Answer 6

I'm sorry, you can't have Abe Lincoln. Pick someone else to gay up. This hooey reminds me of Mormons baptizing dead people into their faith.

Is it really that important to the homosexual community that Honest Abe be gay??

Give Abe some credit, he stayed married to a crazy woman until the day he died. That's pain only we heterosexuals understand.

Answer 7

It was no evidence just theories. Evidence is facts. Theories are loose assumptions based off of facts. It is possible, but there really is not sufficient eveidence to say.

Answer 8

Is this the only thing you've got to wonder about? Get a life and maybe you wont spend all your time looking for ancient skeletons in others closets

Answer 9

That is interesting indeed. You never know. It is possible.
Could this be what Bro*****K Mout****n was adapted from or is this some sort of media propaganda? :-) lol
Good Question!!!

Answer 10

I dont like when people keep talking about persons from the past, and they keep saying , we now have proof that they were gay / bi / str8 god knows what else.

Its in the past, It doesnt matter now , if he was .