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Famous rulers who were gay
The scope of this list is limited to sovereign rulers and aristocracy who have titles that were recognized during their lives. This list excludes baronets from the United Kingdom, the landed gentry, imposters, and pretenders, and the equivalent in other countries.
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Image: Busts of Hadrian and Antinous at the British Museum CC BY But what many people still may not realise is that numerous great figures from very long ago were known to have been gay or bisexual.
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From Alexander to Florence Nightingale, there are many people in history who were totally queer.
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I was surprised that we were kings. When I was in my teens and first learning about gay history, it made sense to me that we were authors, actors and musicians.
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LGBTQ+ people have been around throughout history, and some are even more famous than others, like Leonardo da Vinci and Shakespeare.
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The Dutch monarchy made international news last week after announcing that royals can marry a same-sex partner without giving up their right to the throne. But while the Netherlands, which in became the first country to legalize gay marriage, has paved the wave for a queer royal to officially wear the crown, LGBTQ people have long been doing so unofficially.
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Throughout history, many influential figures were gay or part of the LGBTQ+ community. Their contributions shaped art, science, politics, and culture in profound ways. These historical figures often had to hide their true selves due to societal prejudices, yet they still managed to leave lasting impacts on the world. From ancient rulers to modern-day pioneers, LGBTQ+ individuals have played.
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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Courtesy National Portrait Gallery of London; Shutterstock.
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For much of history, LGBTQ+ royalty needed to hide their identities. Even though some societies embraced homosexuality, most refused to accept a gay monarch. But before we talk about LGBTQ+ kings and queens, let's start with the history of sexual terms heterosexual and homosexual.
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Queen Anne of Great Britain, Friends since childhood, Queen Anne was known for her close relationship and reported romance with Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. They even had pet names for each other: Mrs Morley Anne and Mrs Freeman Sarah.
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