Could Abraham Lincoln Have Been Gay? A New Documentary Claims He Was a ‘Lover of Men’
Abraham Lincoln represented the best of America: he was brave, empathetic, wise, and possibly gay.
The documentary “Lover of Men” (currently in cinemas) explores the notion that the 16th U.S. president had several male companions throughout his life, even after marrying Mary Todd Lincoln. This controversial topic has been widely debated in academic circles for years, with experts analyzing letters and primary sources from that era, revealing subtle clues about Lincoln’s potentially significant same-sex relationships.
However, discussions about his sexuality have often been dismissed as mere “urban legend.”
“We live in a homophobic society,” producer Rob Rosenheck states. “Discussions about Lincoln’s queerness are often labeled as a ‘theory’ or ‘myth,’ but the frequency of these conversations indicates that it’s a significant part of our history that can’t be ignored.”
Some might wonder, “Is it necessary to explore his personal life?” Director Shaun Peterson remarks, “I find that question often carries a homophobic undertone. Numerous works discuss Lincoln and Mary’s troubled marriage, but when it comes to the idea of his affection for men, it’s as if society feels we shouldn’t explore that too deeply.”
The Documentary Proposes Lincoln Was Sexually Fluid
The film posits that Lincoln had numerous long-term relationships with men, beginning with Billy Greene, whom he met at a local store in Illinois during his youth. Greene later told William Herndon, who was Lincoln’s law partner and one of his early biographers, that he shared a bed with Lincoln for about 18 months. Greene vividly described Lincoln’s physique, commenting that his “thighs were as perfect as a human being could be.”
Sharing beds was not uncommon in the 1800s, often lacking the sexual implications of today. Nevertheless, as Lincoln’s career progressed, he continued to share beds with male companions, hinting that it was not solely due to financial reasons, but rather something he found enjoyable.
“Why is it so difficult for people to accept the concept of intimacy being pleasurable?” queries Tom Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University. “We’re not living in the Victorian era anymore, yet discussions around this topic often seem as hesitant as they were then.”
Lincoln’s most significant romantic bond was purportedly with Joshua Speed, a store owner he met in 1837. They lived together and shared a bed for four years until Speed returned to Kentucky for family reasons, which left Lincoln heartbroken. Experts interviewed in the documentary suggest that Lincoln fell into a severe depression, even requiring friends to monitor his well-being closely, restricting access to sharp objects.
Despite Speed eventually marrying a woman, they maintained contact through love letters, many kept at the Library of Congress and available for public viewing. Lincoln frequently signed his letters to Speed as “yours forever.”
“You can truly sense the emotion in those letters,” Peterson explains. “Lincoln expressed feelings of longing, stating things like, ‘I miss you’ and ‘I feel jealous of your new wife, Joshua.’ The depth of emotion in these letters is unlike anything else found in Lincoln’s writings.”
Lincoln married Mary in 1842, yet from the outset, “it was primarily a political union,” Balcerski elaborates. “Did sexual attraction exist in that marriage?” The answer is complex: the couple had separate bedrooms at the White House and had four children together in a span of ten years.
When Mary was away, Lincoln often shared a bed with his bodyguard, David Derickson, indicating that his relationships may have been more complicated than previously thought.
Elizabeth Woodbury Fox, the spouse of Lincoln’s naval aide, noted in her diary that Derickson often shared Lincoln’s bed and even wore the president’s nightshirts. Thomas Chamberlin, an officer in the regiment assigned to protect Lincoln, also mentioned this sleeping arrangement in his 1895 book.
Like many individuals of that era, Lincoln is often thought to have had a sexually fluid orientation.
“The upcoming generation, known as Gen Z, identifies as more queer and fluid than any before. They understand this discussion,” explains Balcerski. “But attempting to engage in this conversation with older generations can feel like banging your head against a wall.”
The play ‘Lover of Men’ is stirring up debate among online critics
Interestingly, the documentary “Lover of Men” premieres while Cole Escola’s “Oh, Mary!” is captivating sold-out audiences on Broadway. This dark comedy offers a humorous twist on Civil War history, featuring Mary as a heavy-drinking aspiring cabaret performer and Lincoln as a closeted gay man longing for his bodyguard.
“What a coincidence,” says Peterson. “It seems the Lincoln gods have granted us a touch of serendipity. They complement each other beautifully.”
The documentary has sparked criticism from conservatives, with figures like Ben Shapiro and Alex Jones speaking out against it on social media. The creators hope that viewers will form their own conclusions after watching the film, which aims to highlight the ongoing suppression and erasure of queer history.
“I don’t have an agenda,” states Peterson. “I’m not trying to convince anyone to identify as gay! As a documentarian, my goal is to explore the evidence and build a case based on that evidence. I wouldn’t have pursued this project if I didn’t believe the evidence was compelling.”
