Walt Whitman, One of the Most Famous LGBT Poets In History

Poetry brings love to life and these incredible poets immortalized their love in their writings. Though many were afraid of persecution and hid their sexual orientation, others boldly came out in a time when homosexuality was completely condemned. Here we take a look at 10 of the greatest gay or bisexual figures in classic literature.

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was born in 1819, and was well-known for his essays and his poetry, especially Leaves of Grass which was one of his most controversial pieces for its overt sexuality. Based on his poetry, it is generally assumed that Whitman was either gay or bisexual. He often talked about his romantic affairs with women, but he also had very deep relationships with men. Some biographers claim that this does not prove anything, while others have cited letters and journals as proof of his sexual relations with men. Peter Doyle, a bus conductor who met Whitman in 1866, is the most likely candidate for Whitman’s lover. Oscar Wilde once met Whitman, and declared with the utmost confidence that Whitman was definitely gay. When asked if his poems contained elements of homoeroticism, Whitman refused to respond.

 Source: http://www.bidnessetc.com/entertainment/poetry-knows-sexual-preference-10-famous-lgbt-poets-history/