Tariq Ali On Two Gay Writers Who Made Lincoln Straight

"Not very convincing," says Tariq Ali in his LRB piece taking apart Tony Kushner's attempt to have it both ways regarding his establishment-pandering and, surprise, surprise, much-nominated screenplay Lincoln. Kushner claims while he "personally believes" the 16th president was queer, he can justify degaying him because:

"I wanted to write about a very specific moment and I chose this moment and I don’t feel that there’s any evidence at this particular moment that Lincoln was having sex with anybody… He seems to have not slept and taken no time off and during this period I think he was beginning to feel ground to a pulp by the war and by the pressures of his job. I find it difficult to believe that Lincoln was banging anybody."

So we're only gay during the moments when we're "banging anybody"? And people in stressful, powerful jobs never use sex as a release? As Ali says, "history and present times contradict such a narrow view."

That's the old news. The new aspect is that Ali reveals he confronted Gore Vidal about his degayed Lincoln [Kindle]. From a taperecorded lunch in Los Angeles:

TA: Given the recent book and materials on Lincoln’s homosexuality how do you feel having portrayed him as a raving heterosexual in your novel?

GV: You’re a bastard. What a bastard question. It hurts. It hurts. How could I have missed that?

TA: You didn’t look?

GV: I had no idea, but since Tripp's book I’ve gone back and devoured everything on the subject. There is no doubt in my mind. Once he was in bed with the Captain and the latter’s son walked in. On another occasion they were disturbed and Lincoln opened the door wearing his lover’s nightgown. Oh what a fool I was.

Lincoln was published in 1984. Three decades later, here we are.

Comments

[Glenn I]

When a friend praised the new "Lincoln" movie I said, "That's twice Daniel Day-Lewis has played gay." My friend bristled: "What! There's no proof about Lincoln, I don't think it matters, that's silly." Sadly, my friend is gay and out and hardly homophobic. But there it is, the internalized homophobia requiring he "defend" Lincoln against the charge of homosexuality. As though there were really any other response than, "Huh? I hadn't heard that. I'd be interested to review the evidence."