Things I’ve found in my research that I never would have believed had I not seen it with my own two eyes:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the one true lesbian ally.
It is vitally important that you all are aware of the time Longfellow chilled in a hotel room drinking wine with a lesbian couple knowing full well the nature of their relationship.
This was more than a one time hangout. The three were really good friends. And Henry knew. He knew. And he was happy to be their friend.
This means everything to me.
Their names were Charlotte Cushman (a famous actress) and Matilda Hays (a famous journalist and translator). Longfellow doesn’t comment on it directly, but they were very open and it was common knowledge throughout most European circles. Though they probably were a bit more private in America, Longfellow actually does base two of his characters off of them. He also just has a lot of cute things to say about them:
December 20, 1849. “We had
a nice dinner party to-day. Lowell and
his wife and sister; Miss Bremer, Swedish authoress; Miss Cushman, the tragic
actress; Miss Hays, the lovely translator of George Sand; Jewett; Sumner; and
young Furness, son of the Philadelphia clergyman. A whole table full of authors and
authoresses! We fed them upon canvasback
ducks, quail, Roman punch, three kinds of American wines, Sparkling Catabwa,
Gabella and Scuppermong. It was very
charming.”
October 4, 1850. “Called on Miss Cushman and Miss Hays at Tremont House. While there the Russell’s of Milton Hill came
in and Sumner then Jenny Lind, who talked with much gesture and eagerness.
November 2, 1851. “Miss
Hayes and Miss Cushman are in Boston again. They sent me some Spanish Moss from
Mississippi.” (Omg)
QueerGalaxies 