In February, season two of HBOs teen drama Euphoria reached a climax. Well, if that makes me a villain, proclaimed an unrepentant Cassie Howard, then so fucking be it. This much-memed line encapsulates popular cultures preoccupation with baddies, from Netflixs endless scammer series to Disneys villain origin stories. Social media is pretty much a conveyor belt of villainy, too, with different echo chambers picking their own adversaries. Meanwhile, famous young women such as Britney Spears, who were once demonised, are now being reappraised as victims. And with hindsights perfect vision, its clear that plenty of characters in TV and film were not the actual villain either.
We seem to be more accepting of some baddies than others. History is littered with famous probably-gay villains, from Alexander the Great to Roy Cohn, Senator McCarthys chief counsel and Trumps favourite lawyer. But unlike LGBTQ+ heroes such as Alan Turing or Audre Lorde, they are seldom remembered or claimed as gay. The question of why that should be the case is the starting point of Bad Gays: A Homosexual History by Huw Lemmey and Ben Miller. The books central argument is that, if we are to fully understand how todays gay identities evolved, the lives of villains the most deceitful, criminal, manipulative and power-hungry gay people are just as important as those of gay heroes such as Oscar Wilde.
Bad Gays is a continuation of the duos podcast of the same name, which profiles the evil and complicated queers in history such as Ernst Rhm, the worlds first out gay politician a Nazi and J Edgar Hoover, the FBI director who helped harass political dissidents and gay government employees and was posthumously outed by his friend, Broadway star Ethel Merman. We want to address our history and how gay identity came to be, Lemmey says. But if were ever going to understand our sexual identity in a way that is based around solidarity and friendship, we need to discuss gay people who were devious and ruthless, too.
The podcast began in 2019 when Lemmey, a Welsh author and film-maker, and Miller, a writer and historical researcher, were introduced to each other by friends. While recording the podcast, we found that there were recurring themes, says Lemmey. We kept coming back to colonialism, race and the creation of the white homosexual identity. And also the same disclaimer, which was that concepts like gay and homosexual didnt really exist before 1860. That was when sexologists and early gay rights campaigners first coined the term homosexual, and began to conceive of homosexual and heterosexual as innate sexual identities.
The pair discuss these issues more deeply in the book. The text still has the irreverent swishiness of the podcast there is a reference to evil twinks in the first few pages. But a key difference is that the book tells a story about how white gay identity was formed, and is more focused on men, whereas the podcast which has had five series and almost 1m downloads now profiles an even mix of men and women. When we started the podcast, it was only about men, because the ethics of two cis men talking about villainous women were less clear, Miller says. We changed that partly because women and trans people kept getting in touch saying: We want to be part of these stories and we trust you to tell them.
Bad Gays starts with the story of perpetually horny Roman emperor Hadrian. Next we learn about King James, whose ascension to the throne of Scotland and England formed the United Kingdom. Jamess rule was defined by authoritarian laws, colonialism and misogynistic witch-hunts and by his attraction to athletic jousters half his age. The book unpacks how the gangster Ronnie Kray became an unironic icon of masculinity. And how the Hitler sympathiser and architect Philip Johnson came to influence the skylines of Americas cities more than any other. For us, its not about casting these figures aside and saying: They have nothing to teach us, Lemmey says. Its not fair to say these people are always monsters. Just like our heroes, villains are complicated there are hidden aspects of their lives that might explain their actions.
Rejecting an apolitical approach to LGBTQ+ history and culture, and telling the story of how todays dominant white gay identity was formed, Lemmey and Miller explain how it can uphold systems that marginalise trans people, women, the working class and people of colour. While they are sympathetic to their subjects individually even the murderers they are much more critical of the white gay identity their legacies have helped to form. The authors argue for a dismantling of oppressive structures, rather than mere representation within them a philosophy similar to the gay liberation movements of the 1970s.
When I ask which figure best epitomises the book, Lemmey responds with Thomas Edward Lawrence. He is known as the impossibly blond hero Lawrence of Arabia, who we saw riding a camel across the desert screaming No prisoners! in David Leans 1962 cinema spectacular. But his kinky gay sexual awakening he detailed in his diaries regular thrashings administered by Jack Bruce, a member of the Scots Guards who later sold his story to the tabloids was entwined with imperialist philosophies that persist. His sexual desire towards colonised people was built out of both admiration and exploitation, Lemmey says. The way he used the figure of the colonised primitive was indicative of the types of white identity formation we discuss here. Like all of the books subjects, he was complicated.
The rest is here:
Evil twinks and gay gangsters: why we need to remember historys horrid homosexuals - The Guardian
- THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY: 8/20 - Region Sports Network - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- This week in Loveland history for Aug. 20-26, 2023 - Loveland Reporter-Herald - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- August 20: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - Brooklyn Daily Eagle - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- How to Keep Track of Changes in Google Keep With Version History - MUO - MakeUseOf - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- This Week in History: Vienna Homecoming welcomes native sons ... - Warren Tribune Chronicle - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Avatar: The Last Airbender: The History of the Water Tribe - GameRant - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Edy Tavares and Cape Verde poised to make history at 2023 FIBA ... - Olympics - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- 10 all-time worst trades in Baltimore Orioles history - Birds Watcher - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Artists Komar and Melamid Give Lessons in History - The Moscow Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Butler welcomes the most diverse freshman class in university ... - WRTV Indianapolis - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Crow Fair 2023 packed with history and culture, and all are invited - Q2 News - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- The sunset of Sonic Youth: An oral history of the band's final U.S. show - NPR - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Russia, Ukraine and Versailles: Bogus lessons from history won't ... - Salon - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Opinion | The Georgia Indictment Speaks to History - The New York Times - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- UNC Football: A look at the 2023 schedule through the lens of history - Tar Heel Blog - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Types of public transports: Brief dive into history - Daily Sabah - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Red Sox infielder Luis Uras makes history with back-to-back grand ... - Yahoo Sports - August 20th, 2023 [August 20th, 2023]
- Ranking the top 10 running backs in Georgia football history - Red and Black - June 16th, 2023 [June 16th, 2023]
- The history of cyclical bull markets suggests the S&P 500 could rise ... - CNBC - June 16th, 2023 [June 16th, 2023]
- A history of healing | Hub - The Hub at Johns Hopkins - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell on Making Tony History - TIME - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Pee Dee archaeologists hope to unearth Native American history - Charleston Post Courier - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Studying slavery and the history of Juneteenth | Rowan Today ... - Rowan Today - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- In a City of Monuments, History Lives Onstage and in the Streets - The New York Times - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Dua Lipa's Dating History: From Anwar Hadid to Romain Gavras - PEOPLE - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Kentucky Baseball's Homefield History In The NCAA Tournament - KSR - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Association of international scholars turns focus to history of women ... - Global Sisters Report - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Pat Mann Phillips makes Houston rodeo history as first woman elected to lead board of directors - Houston Public Media - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Tom Dwan Wins Largest Pot in Live-Stream Poker History ($3.1 ... - PokerNews.com - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- The history of spy animals; 'Blue Ribbon Kitchen' offers award ... - NPR - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- LOOKING BACK: A Vicksburg home with Stamps on history - The ... - Vicksburg Post - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- The Oldest Olympic Champions In Swimming History - SwimSwam - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- 'Tenacious' Guyer softball team aims for more history at second-ever ... - Denton Record Chronicle - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- HISTORY: Tennessee Towns That Failed to Launch - Main Street Media of Tennessee - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- A look at the history and influence of downtown San Diego's ... - ABC 10 News San Diego KGTV - May 31st, 2023 [May 31st, 2023]
- Learning the History and Customs of Martinsville Speedway - WSET - April 12th, 2023 [April 12th, 2023]
- World History Portal | Britannica - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Abstract paintings by Cleveland native John Moore reflect erasure of personal history as part of being Black - cleveland.com - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- My first day was a sex scene: the disturbing history of teen actors and nudity - The Guardian - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Local historian brings Oakland Countys history back to life with online lectures - C&G Newspapers - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- VCUs medical college history found to be intimately connected with slavery, report finds - WRIC ABC 8News - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Dolphins Super Bowl history: When is the last time Miami made it to, won the Super Bowl? - NBC Sports - Misc. - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- At the San Diego History Center, a historic donation - The San Diego Union-Tribune - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Arrest of squeegee kid reveals history of run-ins with drivers and police, records show - Fox Baltimore - January 6th, 2023 [January 6th, 2023]
- Tesla is now worth less than Exxon as stock plunges toward worst month, quarter and year in history - MarketWatch - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- On this day in history, Dec. 21, 1945, Gen. Patton dies in Germany after he was paralyzed in auto crash - Fox News - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Vikings stun Colts: Matt Ryan has now been on the losing end of these four biggest blown leads in NFL history - CBS Sports - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- What time will National Treasure: Edge of History air on Disney+? Release date, plot, and more details about the action-adventure series - Sportskeeda - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Mendocino County history: Willits Grade lumber spill, and other news from November 1948 - Ukiah Daily Journal - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- The Renaissance Run: Bruce Boudreau Named 14th Head Coach in Franchise History On This Day 15 Years Ago - NoVa Caps - November 23rd, 2022 [November 23rd, 2022]
- Qatar Make World Cup History As First Host Nation To Lose In Opening Game - Sports Illustrated - November 21st, 2022 [November 21st, 2022]
- History is best told through relatable human stories. - Monterey County Weekly - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- History made in China as Xi Jinping to serve third term - breaking decades-long precedent - Sky News - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- No matter who wins, the next Governor of Arkansas will make history - KNWA - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- Ole Miss vs. LSU history: Last time they played, who has won the most games, best moments - DraftKings Nation - October 21st, 2022 [October 21st, 2022]
- What is witchcraft? The definition, the types and the history. - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Women Reflected in Their Own History - Notes - E-Flux - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- History in the making: Wells is new museum director - Sent-trib - Sentinel-Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- And the West is History: Train Crossing 12th Street - 1966 - The Durango Herald - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Intimate and Interconnected History of the Internet - The Nation - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Haunted History of New England Presentation ~ October 23 - thebedfordcitizen.org - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- An Oil Company Planned to Bulldoze Black History. This Community Fought Back. - Earthjustice - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- New Tourist Attraction to Educate Tourists, Community on Manistee History - 9 & 10 News - 9&10 News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- WATCH: Phillies' J.T. Realmuto hits inside-the-park home run, first catcher in postseason history - CBS Sports - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Mother-daughter race duo make history in Las Vegas: 'I hope we do it again' - Fox News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- This week in history Oct. 14, 1922: Winter arrives and slows seasonal mining business - Summit Daily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- LeBron James record watch: Where the Lakers star stands in history books before the season - CBS Sports - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The history of Quinsippi Island | History | whig.com - Herald-Whig - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Miles grad makes largest alum donation in school history, hopes to be catalyst for giving to HBCUs - AL.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Investor Optimism Drops to One of 60 Lowest Readings in History - The Epoch Times - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Will short week hurt Chiefs vs. the Bills? Heres what history tells us - syracuse.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The untold history of UC San Diego's terrible, weird and glorious single season of football - The San Diego Union-Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The History Channel - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- What we risk by narrowly restricting our kids view of history and culture - Idaho Capital Sun - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- The history of Jewish admissions and experience at Stanford - Stanford Report - Stanford University News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Snapshots of history coming to Glens Falls - NEWS10 ABC - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- How one Santa Cruz teacher teaches U.S. history and how she sees her role as a history teacher today - Lookout Santa Cruz - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- SDMHA Announce Cherokee History Event Oct. 15 And Other Upcoming Programs - The Chattanoogan - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- History book contest winners announced | The American Legion - The American Legion - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Christian Bale and Margo Robbie's 'Amsterdam' is on pace to lose $100 millionthese are the 10 biggest box office bombs in history - CNBC - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]