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Over the years, he developed close relationships with many men, with some being speculated to be much more than just friendships. It remains uncertain whether Michelangelo (1475-1564) and Cavalieri ever had a physical relationship.Īlthough the sexual orientation of Walt Whitman (1819-1892) remains a matter of debate, most biographers of the American poet and essayist agree that he was homosexual, or at least bisexual. Nevertheless, he remained close with the celebrated artist until his death. Based on the letters exchanged between the two, the feeling appears to have been mutual. In 1523, the genius behind some of the most stunning works of art in history fell madly in love with a young nobleman named Tommaso de Cavalieri (1509-1587) to whom he dedicated a large part of his poems. Vita and her husband had an open marriage, while Virginia’s husband Leonard didn’t object because he wanted for his wife to be happy.
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Interestingly, their husbands knew about the affair but did nothing about it. Their romantic relationship came to an end sometime in the late 1920s but they remained good friends. The two soon became close friends and eventually, lovers. Upon the realization that Vita was a writer, Woolf offered to publish her book through the Hoharth Press that was started by the famous writer and her husband a few years earlier. Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) and Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962) met at a dinner party in the early 1920s. Their families forced them to separate, threatening to stop providing funds. But their happiness didn’t last this time either. After Wilde was released from prison, the two lovers were reunited once again. But Bosie’s father, who disapproved of their affair, started a campaign against Wilde which indirectly led to his arrest on the grounds of gross indecency. 16 years Wilde’s junior, Bosie was a real inspiration for the famous Irish author and his work including ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’. It was June 1891 when Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) met the 21-year-old Oxford undergraduate and poet Lord Alfred ‘Bosie’ Douglas (1870-1945) who soon became his lover.
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Most gay couples therefore chose to keep their same-sex relationships a secret which has been uncovered only in the recent years. In the not-so-distant past, homosexuality wasn't only frowned upon but it was even treated as a crime and prosecuted as such. The historic yes vote in the Irish referendum on same-sex marriage proves that the society is getting more and more accepting and open-minded when it comes to homosexuality.