LGBT nobility and royalty

Throughout history, monarchs have engaged in same-gender relationships. Even in jurisdictions where homosexuality was not prohibited or proscribed by law or religious edicts, titles of aristocracy were almost always directly transferred through married heterosexual spouses and their offspring (except when certain titles could be inherited by relatives upon a childless death).

History

Imperial China
Main article: LGBT history in China

Several Chinese emperors had openly homosexual relationships, even though most also had active heterosexual relationships as well. A famous example is that of Emperor Ai of Han and his lover, Dong Xian, whom Ai promoted quickly through government ranks and ennobled as a marquess (this despite the fact that both men were legally married to women).

Throughout written Chinese history, the role of women is given little positive emphasis, with relationships between women being especially rare. One mention by Ying Shao, who lived about 140 to 206, does relate palace women attaching themselves as husband and wife, a relationship called dui shi. He noted, "They are intensely jealous of each other."[1]

United Kingdom

Since the Parliament of the United Kingdom enacted a series of reforms (from the 1960s onward) to the honours system, few hereditary titles have been created (the last being created in 1990), while life peerages have proliferated, allowing for more openly LGBT persons to be appointed to the House of Lords. However, despite the legalization of civil partnerships for same-sex couples in 2004, spouses of ennobled civil partners have not been allowed the extension of title and privilege from their spouses' ennoblements as those accorded to married opposite-sex spouses of ennobled persons. In July 2012, Conservative MP Oliver Colvile announced a private member's bill, titled "Honours (Equality of Titles for Partners) Bill 2012-13", to amend the honours system to both allow husbands of those made dames and for civil partners of recipients to receive honours by their relationship statuses.[2] Another bill, the Equality (Titles) Bill, which would allow for both female first-born descendants to inherit hereditary titles as well as for "husbands and civil partners" of honours recipients "to use equivalent honorary titles to those available to wives", was introduced by Lord Lucas in the House of Lords on 13 May 2013, but did not progress past Committee stage.[3]

In 2016, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, became the first member of the British aristocracy to come out as gay. He married his partner in 2018.[4]

Elsewhere

A significant event in LGBT aristocracy occurred in 2006, when Manvendra Singh Gohil, a prince of the former princely state of Rajpipla in Gujarat, India, came out as gay to Indian media; the event caused controversy both in India and abroad, and his family unsuccessfully attempted to disinherit him.

On 7 March 2008 Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia, a Spanish aristocrat, married Liliana Maria Dahlmann in a civil ceremony on her deathbed.[5] Today, the Dowager Duchess is Liliana Maria.[6][7]

It was rumored to be an open secret that late Sultan Qaboos of Oman was the only gay ruling monarch,[8] however, his rule did not improve LGBT rights in Oman.

Prince Azim of Brunei was outed in 2019, the year before his death.[9][10]

In fiction

A recent treatment of LGBT nobles and royalty is the 2002 children's book King & King, which shows the heir to a throne sifting through potential brides before falling in love with, and marrying, another prince before the two become kings. The book was challenged by extremist leftist groups in various countries, and was honored with a variety of accolades from supporters of LGBT rights.

Examples

In many European countries, same-sex relations have historically been stigmatized, illegal, or considered sinful by Christians. Sometimes charges of homosexual relations were propagated by enemies, often rumors of such activities were denied, and sometimes same-sex lovers were acknowledged openly. The following list includes royals and nobles who were at least suspected of having same-sex relationships, and many cases are disputed or unclear.

Modern Europe

India

Ancient

References
  1. Hinsch, Bret. (1990). Passions of the Cut Sleeve. University of California Press. p. 174.
  2. Gray, Stephen. "Tory MP's bill calls for partners of gay knights to receive honorary titles". PinkNews.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  3. "Equality (Titles) Bill [HL] 2013-14". Parliament of the United Kingdom.
  4. Ritschel, Chelsea (2018-09-25). "The first-ever royal same-sex wedding, in pictures". The Independent. Retrieved 2020-11-14.
  5. Keeley, Graham. "Red Duchess wed lesbian lover to snub children", "The Daily Telegraph", 2008-03-16. Retrieved on 2008-03-16. Archived April 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Algorri, Luis (2008-03-28). "Liliana, el poder de la nueva duquesa" (in Spanish). Tiempo. Retrieved 2009-12-12.
  7. From Tiempo: Spanish: Le pese a quien le pese, Liliana Dahlmann es la duquesa viuda de Medina Sidonia, English: Liliana Dahlmann is the Dowager Duchess of Medina Sidona no matter who likes it.
  8. Rogers, Destiny, "Condolences for Sultan Qaboos ignore open secret", QNews, 11 January 2020.
  9. https://meaww.com/perez-hilton-outing-sultan-of-brunei-prince-azim-son-post-countrys-law-to-stone-homosexual
  10. https://dallasvoice.com/perez-hilton-outs-sultan-of-bruneis-son/
  11. Bertin, Celia (1982). Marie Bonaparte. Paris: Perrin. ISBN 226201602X.
  12. The Secret History of the Gay Kings and Queens of England
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