actual modern historians: in this letter, Margaret tells her dearest friend Adela, “my love, I long to worship at your altar of Venus once more. come to me and rain kisses upon my breasts as you did in Paris last spring.”
people on the Internet: “FrIeNd???” ERASURE. STOP TRYING TO HIDE THE GAY. “OH MY GOD THEY WERE ROOMMATES”
aforementioned historians: she. she opens the letter with “My dearest friend.” we’re literally quoting here, and we just admitted they had sex
people on the Internet: “JUST GALS BEING PALS” EH? R/SAPPHOANDHERFRIEND?
historians: a truly vast number of us are queer
people on the Internet: LOL FELLAS IS IT GAY TO KISS YOUR BEST LADY FRIEND’S BREASTS??? NOT IN HISTORY!!
Historians: we’re very careful about applying modern labels to ancients who don’t have the same concepts of queerness.
People on the internet: SO GAYS DIDN’T EXIST IN HISTORY HUH?
Historians: no? We’re saying ancients had different relationships and acceptances for things we now label as queer and it’s not right to force modern terms-
People on the internet: WOW, SO GAYS DON’T AND HAVE NEVER EXISTED? IS THAT WHAT YOU’RE SAYING? YOU’RE TRYING TO ERASE GAYS FROM HISTORY.
Historians: … How are you getting that from what I said?
Historians: This man seems to clearly have taken this other man as a lover, based on his own comments and those of the people around him. And he did not seem to consummate either of his marriages or fathered children, so we feel comfortable saying he was likely a homosexual
Internet: Historians refuse to acknowledge that anyone in history was anything but straight!
Historians: Some people believe this man and woman had a romantic interest in each other based on their letters, but it’s important to remember that this kind of language was expected and didn’t necessarily mean they were actually interested in each other.
Internet: All a woman and a man had to do was look at each other and all historians are convinced they were into each other!
Historians: This person had some contemporary sources referring to them as gay, but that’s likely people spreading rumors because we can’t find anything to back it up beyond the word of their political rivals.
Internet: So gay people just never existed??
Historians: Actually we all agree this other person from the same place and time was gay and we talk extensively about it
Internet: That person isn’t famous enough for me to care
