Gay actors from the 50s

Most of the stories that we discussed came from one guy: Scotty Bowers, a Hollywood pimp of the queer silver screen actors of the 1940s and beyond. He was also associated with Alfred Kinsey in his famous study of human sexuality in the 1950s by providing many of the interview subjects.

A former marine, Bowers kept calm for many years about these stories, as he did not want to adversely affect the lives of any of the actors who were still around. Many of the stories were actively hushed up using fixers paid by the studios at the time, and several of the actors were in "lavender marriages"---marriages arranged by the studio, frequently with another queer star. At the time, studios especially would not own wanted the queer attractions of their headlining actors to be widely established, as that would hold damaged the 'wholesome family image' of many of the films they wanted to market.

After all of the actors died, Bowers finally decided that his experiences and stories couldn't harm their image or beloved status---plus the planet was a more unlock place to queer attraction---so he wrote about it. His memoir, Full Service, records many of the t

The Real LGBT Stars of Old Hollywood

The gay subculture of early Hollywood has gained more attention recently thanks to the Netflix series Hollywood. While the show does feature portrayals of some real icon characters, its main fixate is on the unreal minority characters and the made-up success story of their diverse film. Many stars in Hollywood from the 1930s suppressed their sexuality. They didn’t gain the freedom that LGBT performers have now, but that doesn’t mean their lives needed a incorrect happy ending in command to be recognized and appreciated.

Knowing the complete history of LGBT stars in the first decade of Hollywood is difficult since, in order to appeal to the public, publicists believed that aspect of their lives needed to be hidden. Knowing as much as we undertake about some LGBT stars is a feat considering how much rewriting and covering up the Hollywood studio heads did to everyone they managed, whether gay or straight. Biographies were changed to sound more interesting or relatable to fans, and relationships were deliberately orchestrated to publicize a movie or introduce a new actor to the public. The only indication of some stars’ hidden

For many, June represents the month of pride; a time to celebrate, train and communicate all that is queer, gay and fabulous. Although today creature gay isn’t much of a deal, back in the 50’s it was a dangerous label to have. Throughout history, thousands have lost their lives because they were labeled as ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ and many lived out their true sexual preferences in secrecy. As it’s almost the end of Pride month, I wanted to have a peek at some celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood who were homosexual, or at least thats what the rumours said. It’s difficult to understand if all these celebrities, and of course many more, were truly queer , but I wanted to share a few stories just so see how far we’ve come. Glad pride everyone.

*Disclaimer: Please note that some of the following stories may depict graphic descriptions and behaviours which some readers may find disturbing. Discretion is advised.

Katherine Hepburn

Iconic Hollywood actress and Academy Award-winning performer in films such as Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond, Katherine Hepburn reportedly had an insatiab

When Hollywood Studios Married Off Gay Stars to Hold Their Sexuality a Secret

Valentino also married costume planner Natacha Rambova in 1923, at a time when his career was starting to take off and the roles he played were seen as less typically masculine, such as in the film “Monsieur Beaucaire” in 1924. His marriage to Rambova ended in 1925, which left some speculating that the marriages of the “pink powder puff” (a nickname Valentino acquired after playing effeminate roles on screen) were coverups to hold the sex symbol’s reputation intact.

Identifying how many Hollywood couples tied the knot to cloak their sexuality is, of course problematic since it’s primarily based on speculation_._

“I think the hardest thing for a historian is to gentle of sift through what the rumor [is] and what is actually factual," says Tropiano.

One commonly cited source for speculation is the memoir of Scotty Bowers, Full Service: My Adventures in Hollywood and the Secret Sex Lives of the Stars. Bowers’ account details sexual encounters, gay and straight, that he claims he both arranged and took part in, beginning in 1946.

Bowers wrote that he had been sexually involved with lead

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