The Netflixification of reality continues.
A new documentary set to be released later this year claims Abraham Lincoln was a gay man who had “steamy gay sex sessions” with male partners.
Lover of Men, which has a scheduled release date of Friday, September 6, claims to “examine the intimate life of America’s most consequential president” by lying about him.
A two-minute trailer details the background to the film with interviewees from different sides of the political spectrum praising the Civil War president.
Later, it discusses Lincoln’s relationship with Joshua Speed – a lifelong close friend whom the then-president repeatedly offered roles to during his four-year tenure. In addition, the trailer highlights Lincoln’s relationship with Captain David Derickson of the 150th Pennsylvania Infantry, with the two allegedly sharing a bed during the Civil War.
Concluding, the trailer notes Lincoln’s “insistence on equality” and explores hypothetical opinions on the rights of gay people in the 21st century.
According to the film’s synopsis, “Lover of Men widens its lens into the history of human sexual fluidity and focuses on the profound differences between sexual mores of the nineteenth century and those we hold today. The film fills in an important missing piece of American history and challenges the audience to consider why we hold such a limited view of human sexuality.”
When the film’s trailer was shared on social media, many questioned why the documentary makers sought to make “everything gay”.
Others took a more lighthearted view of the documentary.
It’s not the first time that Lincoln’s sexuality has made the limelight, following the release of a novel in 2015 by gay activist Larry Kramer.
