Gay sailors

Though initially acquitted of sodomy at his court martial, in he was brought before the Old Bailey and imprisoned. Despite legalisation in in Scotlandthe ban on gay people openly serving in the British Armed Forces was only lifted in Under such an oppressive atmosphere, any same-gender sexual encounter demanded discretion if one were to avoid either death, imprisonment, professional and financial ruin, or social ostracism.

What can frequently be found are official records. Between —, there were prosecutions though courts martial, with sailors frequently convicted. Though providing an account on some of the movements, several mysteries remain. When undertaking their own investigations researchers often need to adopt an explorative approach.

After further investigation, some additional details can be found in our collection of Lieutenant's logs. Social attitudes have had a significant influence on the development of the gay sailors record. Dozens were sentenced to death, though clemency did occur.

The volume gay maturbation within our collection of Admiralty in-letters, dated 24 January They have accused John Cates of sodomy and are being used as evidence against him. These were kept by the state and its actors, such as legal and other disciplinary proceedings.

The s—s saw reactions against the socially liberal temperament that defined the Restoration period. Officers were also known to overlook incidents entirely. Sea queens is a term referring to gay men who worked aboard mainly merchant vessels before the s.

For centuries, LGBTQIA+ sailors served their country in silence. This included summary punishment, dismissal, flight, and even suicide. Further investigation, which was not possible due to the constraints of time in writing this blog, may yet shed light on these events.

Beginning in World War II, the military instituted an outright ban on homosexual service members. In the Navy, officially at least, sodomy was considered as serious a crime as mutiny and murder. They were predominantly effeminate men who worked in entertainment or as waiters on cruise ships, often acting as off-shore 'wives' for gay sailors sailors during voyages.

Library Assistant Published 01 Feb In recent decades, maritime and social historians have increasingly turned their attention towards the social lives of sailors. My question is what is known about men in the US navy during world war 2 practicing homosexuality somewhat openly, and was it a thing.

For over years sexual activity between men was illegal in England and Wales and, untilwas punishable by death. Led by the Society for the Reformation for Manners, efforts were made to suppress profanity, brothels, and other lewd behaviour.

Some relevant entries include:.

Following his release, he fled to France then at war with England to continue his naval career. From the early days of Continental Navy, through USS Constitution ’s active sailing years, and into the 20th century, homosexuality was a crime subject to punishment by court martial, usually resulting in discharge.

1 It wasn’t.

Sea queen Wikipedia: Anything Goes at Sea is an illuminating and extremely frank memoir exploring gay life aboard some British ships from to The author was on these floating gay havens, and part of a proud sub-culture that flourished despite homosexuality still being illegal at sea

However, given the risk of the death penalty and the reaction to merely being accused publicly, non-judicial alternatives developed. My grandfather was in the navy in the pacific theater during world war 2 and has a ton of pictures from the boat.

Some thought should first be given to search terms. These pictures seem like the men were extremely close, hanging around naked, pranking each other, I couldn’t believe all the naked pictures that. In the Royal Navy it was a capital offence from Over time, attitudes would ebb and flow, however.