The documentary “Lover of Men” by Shaun Peterson recently premiered in theaters on Friday, Sept. 6, detailing Abraham Lincoln’s sexual identity. This raises the question: was Abraham Lincoln queer? The mystery behind Abraham Lincoln’s sexuality has intrigued many historians for a long time, and many have conflicting opinions on the matter.
Though the theory behind Lincoln’s sexual identity is mostly speculative, the significance of the answer can not be overlooked. The impact of having one of America’s most iconic historical figures being queer would result in a lot of changes to society today. Not only would it empower the LGBTQIA+ movement, but it would also give the LGBTQIA+ community a historical figure to look up to.
One of the more convincing pieces of evidence is Lincoln’s relationship with other men. One of these men, Captain David Derickson, became very close with Lincoln positioned to guard him during his presidency. Derickson frequently spent time with Lincoln, even sleeping in the same bed, although this was a common practice in the 19th century. While Lincoln and Derickson became very close, there is no physical evidence of them ever having a sexual relationship.
Another piece of evidence historians point to is Lincoln’s relationship with Joshua Fry Speed. Speed was one of Lincoln’s closest friends, having shared a bed with him for four years. In addition, some speculate that Lincoln broke his engagement with Mary Todd in 1841 because Speed was returning to his parents’ plantation. While this is an interesting theory, we still do not know why Lincoln broke his engagement. After Speed left, the two stayed in touch through letters.
When approaching such a question, it is important not to forget the historical context. It is important to consider how history has been recorded and whose perspective it is written in. For example, in the present, we largely associate queerness with shame or guilt, which is why some believe Lincoln might have hidden his relationships with men. While that may be true right now, in the early 19th century, homophobia had not fully developed. Because the idea of queerness wasn’t socially recognized, means that Lincoln had no real reason to hide a gay relationship, if he had one. In addition, because men and women were vastly different in the 19th century, men and women stayed on their side of the wall.
“As social mores [in the 19th century] allowed men and women to be far more affectionate to members of the same sex than they often are today, the term [Romantic friendship] ranges from platonic physical affection to actual romantic relationships.” According to the Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site.
Since same sex relationships were so close, it’s impossible to know if Lincoln’s relationship was intimate.
While the evidence is important, it is also important to focus on how Lincoln perceives sexual identity. During the 19th century, words like gay and queer had different meanings compared to the present day. More importantly, it is almost impossible to know how Lincoln identifies himself, there would need to be physical proof to know if Lincoln was truly queer.
Overall, the debate if Lincoln is queer is one built on speculation, and one might not ever truly know Lincoln’s sexual identity. If ever there was enough evidence to prove Lincoln to be queer, the impact on the LGBTQIA+ movement and the world would be vast.
