Was Abraham Lincoln really an homosexual?

Question

It doesn't hurt to know.

Answer 1

I don't think the evidence is present to be able to say that he was a homosexual. As he was married and had four children I would find it difficult to believe that it was all an act. His letters to his friend J. Speed do have an intimacy that some suspect might indicate that there was more than a friendship in place and he shared a bed with Speed for some years. However, the sharing of a bed between two men was hardly uncommon in that time and didn't necessarily have sexual connotations. There is also a story involving Lincoln and a, female, prostitute that would certainly indicate that his interest in the female of the species was more than just a sham. The final, and I would think most telling point, is that Lincoln ran for congress on several occasions as well as the presidency twice, the senate race against Douglas was actually a gubernatorial appointment. With all those political races under his belt, and the rough and tumble nature of American politics in that era, if Lincoln were a homosexual then I am quite certain that one of his political opponents would have made use of the fact and exposed him for political gain. Since that never happened I am inclined to believe that he was likely straight. Regardless of his sexual orientation I maintain that he was probably the finest president that America ever had.

Answer 2

.
This is a good article on the theme:

The New York TimesWas Lincoln Gay?
By RICHARD BROOKHISER
Published: January 9, 2005

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F05E5D61439F93AA35752C0A9639C8B63

C. A. Tripp (the author) argues among other reasons that Abraham Lincoln was "predominantly homosexual. developed very close relationships with other men. This was especially true with respect to Joshua Speed, with whom Lincoln shared a bed for several years. The two were undoubtedly close friends, but the experience of sharing a bed was hardly unusual in the nineteenth century.

Most people think that that's not enough evidence.

Answer 3

Lincoln moved to Springfield, where he met Joshua Speed, who became a close friend; John G. Nicolay and John Hay, two early biographers, called him ''the only -- as he was certainly the last -- intimate friend that Lincoln ever had.'' Lincoln and Speed shared a double bed in Speed's store for four years (for two of those years, two other young men shared the room, though not the bed). More important than the sleeping arrangements was the tone of their friendship. Lincoln's letters to Speed before and after Speed's wedding in 1842 are as fretful as those of a general before a dubious engagement. Several of them are signed ''Yours forever.'

Answer 4

Nah, I don't think so. But we'll never really know, will we?

People like to speculate about stuff like this, but there's no strong evidence to support this idea. Yes, he shared a bed with a man, but that was common at the time. In fact, if you stayed at an inn, you might end up sharing a bed with a complete stranger (see Moby Dick, where Ishmael is surprised to find himself in bed with Queequeeg). And yes, he wrote a letter to a man that supposedly has gay double-meanings, but I think it's just modern-day folks looking for scandal where there isn't one.

And I agree with Nani, who said "who cares?" Even if he was into the wildest, kinkiest sex imaginable, he'd still have been a great president at the most serious crisis ever to face the country. His private life is irrelevant.

BTW, rarhodes, a lot of closeted gay men marry women, even today. That in itself doesn't prove anything.

Answer 5

Irrelevant question. Whether he was or not is not really important except from a purely prurient perspective. The fact that he married a woman proves nothing--lots of homosexuals throughout history married; many have had productive relationships with their spouses, in spite of their outside desires--but from all accounts, Lincoln loved his wife. Again, though, the question of his sexual orientation is irrelevant today.

Answer 6

No, I do not accept that. If you remember, in that century men commonly shared beds. In Moby Dick, Ishmael shared a bed for some time with peleg(sp). In that day homosexuality was very taboo. Lincoln was far from perfect, but he loved his wife dearly- something in that day I would say was not common. He treated her as an equal, not chattel. Good question, though, hope this helped.

Answer 7

Nope. It was customary to share a bed with a member of the same sex in those days. It never meant that someone was gay. Lincoln married and had four kids.

Answer 8

NO! A THOUSAND TIMES NO!
He married a woman!
How many gay men want to/ actually do marry the opposite sex? They would much rather slobber all over each other. (Sorry for the word-picture this gives you. But you get my point.)

You watched that documentary on the History Channel, didn't you?

Don't believe everything they tell you.

Answer 9

Lincoln Homosexual

Answer 10

That is unbeleivable irrelevant to anything in life. Da Vinci may have been gay, but that doesn't change what he did for society!