Other than what we learn in our textbooks, and possibly if you had to do a paper on a former president – we never really know that much about the former leaders of our country. Sure, you can visit the Lincoln’s birthplace, Lincoln Pioneer Village or learn more about his family. But unless you knew them personally, or a scholar on that particular president, chances are we’ll never fully know them. And while most of us grew up knowing Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president and about the emancipation proclamation, and his unfortunate assassination – what more do we know about the man himself?
In a new documentary Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln, we get a closer look at the man’s personal life. And let’s be clear, the information that is present in the documentary isn’t just something to push a narrative as some people may claim. With the contributions of over twenty historians and scholars, the documentary covers different letters, books, and photographs from moments in Lincoln’s life. From his connection with a friend that lead to a deep depression after his friend married a woman, and his on and off again relationship and engagement with Mary Todd.
So was Abraham Lincoln gay? Or what we would consider gay by today’s perspective? Probably, possibly, and maybe not. The documentary does cover a lot of documents and letters that say he preferred the company of men to women. It also covers his deep friendships and relationships with several men that shaped who was as a person. Through today’s lens, we would consider these to be homosexual relationships, but the main thing here is that today’s lens isn’t the same as the world that Lincoln was living in. The relationship dynamics weren’t the same and it wasn’t as taboo as it has become in the last century even.
Lover of Men also covers this, the change in relationships and cultural norms for them. How things weren’t as black and white or cut and dry as we consider them today. That the heteronormative relationship wasn’t always the norm and the “they’re roommates” line wasn’t even needed. To think that homosexual and other relationship dynamics is a new concept or something that just started in recent decades is definitely narrow-minded. While we know that same-sex relationships have always been part of culture throughout history, it’s just how the culture perceives it now that is the difference.
But the difference here is when the question is about the sexuality of a former president and one that we all learn about (at least very top-level information), you will find people fighting about the authenticity of this information. Even though it has been presented before and several researchers are used in the documentary. And while we can only speculate with the information given, some will still say there is still not enough evidence to make it believable. But it makes you question if is it your own bias you need to break through.
Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln, is now available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video and on VOD.
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About LOVER OF MEN: THE UNTOLD STORY OF HISTORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Lover Of Men examines the intimate life of America’s most consequential president, Abraham Lincoln. As told by preeminent Lincoln scholars and never before seen photographs and letters, the film details Lincoln’s romantic relationships with men. Lover Of Men widens its lens into the history of human sexual fluidity and focuses on the profound differences between sexual mores of the nineteenth century and those we hold today. The film fills in an important missing piece of American history and challenges the audience to consider why we hold such a limited view of human sexuality. Lover Of Men is not only an exploration of gender roles and sexual identity, but also serves as an examination of American intolerance. Lover Of Men is directed by Shaun Peterson.
Lover Of Men features interviews with the following scholars and historians:
- Dr. John Stauffer – Harvard University
- Dr. Thomas Balcerski – Occidental College
- Michael Bronski – Harvard University
- Dr. Craig Tichelkamp – Harvard Divinity School
- Dr. Jack Halberstam – Columbia University
- Dr. Tey Meadow – Columbia University
- Dr. Emily Owens – Brown University
- Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson – Wellesley College
- Dr. Charles Strozier – Historian
- Dr. Jean Baker – Historian
- Dr. Michael Chesson – University of MA Boston
- Jonathan Ned Katz – Historian
- Hugh Ryan – Author/Historian
- Dr. Beryl Satter – Rutgers University
- Dr. Hanne Blank Boyd – Author/Historian
- Dr. Lisa Diamond – University of Utah
- Alok Vaid-Menon – Artist/Historian
- Rep. Zooey Zephyr – Montana State Legislator
- Joan Cummins – Associate Director of Learning Initiatives, President Lincoln’s Cottage