Did Abraham Lincoln sleep with men?

Answer 1

NO! People that knew Abraham said nothing about him loving men. Joshua Speed was his best friend in Lincoln's late twenties and early thirties. Lincoln slept in the same bed with him for four years. They slept together not because they were gay, but because beds were rare. At the time they would be considered roommates.

　

Once Abraham asked Joshua where he could get some. Joshua arranged for Abraham to meet a prostitute. When Abraham got into bed with her, she told him of the price: $.50 (fifty cents). Abraham had only 25 cents and the young woman told him he could owe her the money. Abraham got out of bed immediately, telling the woman that he did not like owing money, and left.

People at the time people thought that inviting someone to sleep in your bed with you was just common courtesy. In 1844, Lincoln was giving a speech near Gentryville, two miles from the cabin where his father lived. Nat Grigsby was in attendance. Nat was a married man and his brother was at one time married to Lincoln's sister, Sarah. Lincoln recognized him and was glad to see him. Lincoln invited Nat to sleep with him. They spent the night in the same bed reminiscing and telling stories. No one thought it was unusual or strange.

　

Abraham had girlfriends, got married and had children. In the White House, Abraham slept with his son not his wife. Abraham and Mary slept in different beds. They slept in different beds because they had a poor marriage, not because he was gay.

A man by the name of Ellis stayed at the Rutledge Inn. The Inn was a log cabin with four rooms. Sometime Mr. Ellis would allow Abraham to share the bed with him. It was a common practice to share beds. Mr. Ellis believed that Abraham was unsuccessful with women because of his awkward appearance. Ellis described Lincoln wearing flax and tow pants that were five inches too short. He would wear one suspender over a shirt that couldn't be tucked in because it was also too short. He did not wear a vest or coat. He had tan-colored, course brogans with blue yarn socks and a straw hat without a brim.

Answer 2

Historians have found maybe this could be, but definite proof. He did live with and share a bed with Joshua Speed for 4 years and did remain friends for years. He also had a close relationship with Captain David Derickson who would stay overnight with Lincoln at the Soldiers Home and he was quoted as saying " the captain and I are getting quite thick." One author Larry Kramer in his book The American People maintains he was gay. We may never know for sure.

Answer 3

It is difficult to "prove" the sexuality of historical figures, but it's unlikely that Lincoln was homosexual. He was married with several children, which also isn't proof, but it would have to at least be considered evidence. He did have close friendships with several men, and indeed shared a bed with a man on multiple occasions, but neither of these things was, at the time, considered all that unusual, and Lincoln didn't go to any great trouble to hide it (bringing it up himself on several occasions), as he might have done had there been anything "sordid" about it.

Answer 4

Doubtful.