Being gay in the 19th century
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
Another review of Graham Rob's Strangers: Homosexuality in the 19th Century.
For some reason, everyone has always been obsessed with finding causes for homosexuality, and Robb provides us with a splendid list. Lack of physical exercise, or on the other hand excessive riding of horses; too much meat-eating, or possibly anaemia; impotence or sexual overindulgence; plebeian brutishness or aristocratic refinement; too many available women leading to satiety or too few leading to lack of opportunity; lack of parental love or excess of same; celibacy or marriage; in the end, you wonder why everybody isnt homosexual, so all-encompassing and unavoidable is the list of causes.
Philip Hensher, The Spectator: Its the same the whole world over
Earlier: By their corkscrew-shaped penis ye shall know them. I bitch a little in Damn! Im glad to be gay!

Comments
Posted by: Jenn | November 17, 2003 01:53 PM