The directors behind Lover of mennew documentary that examines whether former President Abraham Lincoln was gay, are proud of the film they made, despite mockery from conservative pundits.
The feature film by director Shaun Peterson Lover of Men: The Untold Story of Abraham Lincoln is now in theaters. The film uses interviews with leading Lincoln scholars, as well as dramatizations and access to never-before-seen photographs and letters, to suggest that the revered politician had romantic relationships with men. The film focuses on four men, including close friend Joshua Speed, with whom Lincoln shared a bed at different points in his life, according to this research.
“I've been researching this topic for a long time, since about 2007,” Peterson says. The Hollywood Reporter”[There was] fluidity that existed throughout human history, before the words and ideas “homosexual” and “heterosexual” were invented in the 1870s. What really fascinated me is this idea that these binaries are very new. Binaries have been used against people, whether it was the psychological community in the early days or the church, and then where we are today.”
A view of the Lincoln Memorial.
Images by Kevin Dietsch
Producer Robert Rosenheck has been a creative partner with Peterson for 20 years. Although Rosenheck has been a lifelong Lincoln fan, he wasn’t aware of the conversations surrounding whether the politician was queer until Peterson mentioned his plans for the project, at which point the producer jumped on board.
“I said, 'We have to make a movie that's not about Abraham Lincoln being gay, it has to be about something broader,'” Rosenheck recalls. “It tells a universal story. So if you're a queer person, you see this movie and you feel a catharsis when you realize that the greatest American president was queer. But if you're not a queer person, the story is a universal one about tolerance and how we 'other' people.”
Rosenheck is aware that social media users have raised questions about why a film would emphasize apparent speculation about someone like Lincoln, who was secretive about key elements of his personal life. Lincoln had been married to Mary Todd Lincoln for more than two decades at the time of his assassination in 1865.
“We've had all kinds of reactions to the film,” says the producer. “Surprisingly, we've had a lot of left-wing people who are skeptical, [and] people on the right who have seen the movie and are like, 'Wow, I didn't realize that whole story. It's fascinating.' So it's definitely a conversation starter and a mind-opener to see the movie.”
The team behind Lover of men They edited the film with a focus on finishing it in time for November’s presidential election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and in fact, the film was released in theaters just days before Tuesday’s presidential debate. Viewing the project as a rallying cry for Americans to continue to encourage diverse voices and identities, the filmmakers acknowledge that conservative pundits, including Elon Musk, Ben Shapiro, and Alex Jones, posted negative comments about the film’s concept before its release.
“I would just urge them, and anyone who has questions about the film, to watch the film, give it a chance, look at the evidence, and look at the possible message,” Peterson says. “Go see the film with an open mind because we’re in a moment where we need open minds. We’re living through history right now, everything that’s happening, and so it’s important to look back at our past to inform our future.”
As for the way in which the Lover of men team feels about these right-wing figures trolling the film, says Rosenheck, “We're thrilled when people like Elon Musk notice the film, and the reason they notice it is because it's compelling. This story is provocative. There are very few original stories. There are very few stories with a hook, and this movie has a huge hook.”