Miss OstrichToday, I looked up the phrase "log cabin Republican" because I've heard it often but had no idea what it meant. Basically, they're an organization of homosexual Republicans, but what confused me was why they were named "log cabin". According to Wikipedia, they named themselves such because Abraham Lincoln lived in a log cabin. That's all well and good, but why Abraham Lincoln for a gay organization? I did more internet probing, and found out a lot more about our former president than I bargained for.
There are quite a few conspiracy websites that claim Abraham Lincoln was probably gay. One site wrote, "The chief evidence, if such it be, of Lincoln's homosexual inclination is his relationship with Joshua Speed, a handsome 22-year-old shopkeeper when the two men met in 1837. Abe, then a 28-year-old lawyer with bright prospects but poor cash flow, arrived in Springfield, Illinois, and asked about the price of bedding at Speed's general store. Learning that Lincoln was nearly broke, Speed invited him to share his bed upstairs." It goes on to say Lincoln spent four years living and sharing a bed with this man.
Other evidence includes that Lincoln was notoriously uncomfortable women, hired prostitutes but didn't actually sleep with them, and had a very unhappy marriage.
Now, according to the internet, many former presidents and historical figures were actually gay. Here's a small list:
George Washington
J. Edgar Hoover
Jane Austen
Adolf Hitler
Eleanor Roosevelt
Robin Hood
T.S. Eliot
Shakespeare
Jesus
Only problem: there's little to no evidence stating any of the above is true.
The biggest problem I have is that our time and Lincoln's time are very different. Laying in bed with someone of the same gender now, automatically has connotations of "gay" while back then, they could have been sleeping together for warmth and nothing else. It could have been innocent, but we exploit it to be something scandalous.
What are your feelings on homosexual conspiracy theories?
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Comments (43)
Its not a conspiracy to be homosexual, don't ask stupid questions.
Theory is the key word... and... I'll be honest, this is how I view most history: it's over, it's done, who really cares? Sure, in the case of most historical events - at least we can learn from the past mistakes so hopefully not to repeat them. But ... as for conspiracy theories... does it really matter? Do I really care if Shakespeare was gay? No... it wouldn't surprise me, but it doesn't take away from the fact that he was a great writer. The only one I'd contest on that list is Jesus... for many reasons. But other than Him... does it matter? The answer? Not a jot!
This is kinda ridiculous. These people are historically important for reasons not related to their sexuality.
stupid post.
I've never heard about anything like this, but I don't think anything of this can be constituted as a "conspiracy".
It doesn't really matter, does it?
But I would guess that at least some historical figures were actually gay. They just couldn't come out of the closet as easily back then.
This was a really stupid post. Who gives a shit about their sexuality, we give a shit about what they did to be noted as a historical figure.
LAWL.
Did you just call Jesus gay? I think that's hilarious.
dang. Ppl on here are wayyy too sensitive.
There is no such thing as stupid questions.
If something doesnt matter to you...doesnt mean it doesnt matter to someone else...so let ppl "matter" about it! geez.
wtf? eleanor? yeah gonna label this a stupid post.
i think there is a lot more important things to be concerned about than this.
I'd love to see any shred of evidence that would lead someone to actually believe that JESUS was gay...
your question has issues beginning with the words "according to the internet"...
According to the internet, I am Lincoln reincarnated.
If Jesus represented ALL men, then hey - maybe he was bisexual.
IDK about Washington and Lincoln... make sure you are checking what site you're on for viability.
James Buchanan, for instance, is not the subject of queer conspiracy. He really had a lover or two.
Shakespeare MAY have been bisexual.Eleanor Roosevelt was openly bisexual. Figure that terms such as "homosexual", "heterosexual", and "bisexual" are recent phenomena - 20th century. It wasn't around in the state that we see it now. And in some instances, it was normative.
i've heard about jane austen possibly being homosexual. and not on the internet.
i don't think it should be labeled a "conspiracy"...i just find it interesting that people are finding things out about these historical figures and claiming that they were homosexual. not that i agree with any of it, or encourage the behavior.
so what if george washington or jesus or eleanor roosevelt was gay? they're still the same people they always were, we just know another aspect to who they were.
i don't think it matters one way or the other.
I doubt Jesus was gay.
Lincoln, however, may have been gay...doesn't diminish my respect for Lincoln.
First of all, where are you getting your "evidence" for this. And are they credible sites? Not to mention where are they gathering this stuff?
Second, does it really matter?! Sexuality does not belittle their role as a historical figure. I never cared who Abe was sleeping with if he was straight OR gay.
the first time I ever heard that phrase was today, about 15 minutes ago.
I was telling my dad how my friend (who happens to be a die hard republican) just came out of the closet and my dad was like "Wow, so he's a log cabin republican."
what a coincidence!
...Actually, if Jane Austen was a lesbian, I would be pretty cool with that.
~Rachel
"Now, according to the internet..."
^ Whooaaa, stopright there. Did you just say you are using the internet as your main source?! Whether these people are gay, bi, or hetero, it doesn't change the impact they had on this world. So really, why does it matter?
I agree with the other people...stupid post.
I love your list! I laughed at Robin Hood because I think so too, then I laughed even more at JESUS. So much for holy matrimony between man and wife...
Lincoln can't be gay if he posed in a picture looking like that because gay guys have more fashion sense. He might not be gay, just looks like a douchebag trying too hard to fit in with the 'cool' crowd in that pic of him wearing a tank top w/jeans, tatts, button pin and earrings on both earlobes.
WTF, Robin Hood? Wasn't the entire story centered around his love for a woman? (Or do I have the wrong version here?)
I think it's ridiculous. It's not important whether or not they were gay, it had absolutely no impact on the importance of the things they did. Besides which, even today it's often difficult to ascertain if someone is straight or not. So how can we possibly figure out if someone long dead was gay? Don't they say that the only way to find out is to ask?
Back then, things were more open. America is kinda homophobic. Other countries think nothing of men holding hands or kissing one another's cheeks, because it has nothing to do with sexual orientation. It's a form of greeting, or friendship. And at that time, as you said, Abe Lincoln was poor. He needed a place to stay and a way to stay warm, and he found one.
you totally should have mentioned james buchanan. he's the only US president to have substantial (though still questionable) evidence for his homosexuality. not only was he a bachelor for all of his life, he also had a special relationship with a guy called senator king. they would write letters to each other overflowing with emotions.