I'm uncomfortable with this take because it doesn't seem to factor in the social NECESSITY of secrecy, because sodomy was literally a crime, and Wilde went to jail for it

"his sexual orientation was secrecy" implies that secrecy was innate to HIM, not mandated by society https://twitter.com/bec_here/status/1385708414836170755
One of the things we talked about a lot on the podcast, and a thing that haunts me continually, is how we'll never know what different lives our queer forebears could have lived if secrecy and shame hadn't been forced upon them. A sexual orientation isn't something IMPOSED on you
Also, just . . . the colorful, flamboyant public persona we so associate with Wilde speaks to me so much more of someone who actually DID want to be seen, and WOULD have been gleefully, unapologetically out if he'd lived in a world where he could do that and still be a star
This is a great question for which I have no answer

I was very careful to use "queer" on the podcast bc whether Wilde would have identified as gay or bi if those words had been available, and what his relationship with his wife was like, are unknowns https://twitter.com/RABusby1/status/1385711365940072450?s=20
There may be Wilde scholars with more information on this, and I'm sure there are people who have studied his wife more in depth, but in any marriage, the only two people who really know what's going on are the people inside it
great thread (with sources!) about Wilde being annoyed with his friends who were obsessed with secrecy

"on the whole, George, you are a great baby" has absolutely sent me to the moon https://twitter.com/RoseLerner/status/1385718592898019331?s=20
You can follow @clairewillett.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: