In a startling revelation, a recently redacted 1982 letter penned by former President Barack Obama to his ex-girlfriend has shed light on his thoughts surrounding homosexuality. Here’s the whole story.
The Letter to a Former Lover
The letter, which was addressed to Alex McNear, a former girlfriend from his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles, provides a glimpse into the intellectual musings of the young Obama and his perceptions of sexuality and identity.
Obama Wrote About Homosexuality
The letter, written when Obama was just 21 years old, delves into the subject of homosexuality, with Obama admitting to a daily intellectual connection with men, albeit within the confines of his imagination.
Obama’s Fantasy
He expressed a fascination with making love to men in the realm of the mind, describing it as a way to detach from the present.
An Attempt to Remove Oneself From the Present
He stated, “In regard to homosexuality, I must say that I believe this is an attempt to remove oneself from the present, a refusal perhaps to perpetuate the endless farce of earthly life.”
Embracing His Identity
Among his contemplation of sexuality, Obama also explored the concept of an androgynous mindset, where he wished to embrace the entirety of people.
Making Love to Men Daily
“You see, I make love to men daily, but in the imagination,” he wrote.
An Androgynous Mind
“My mind is androgynous to a great extent, and I hope to make it more so until I can think in terms of people, not women as opposed to men,” he added.
The Interview
The rediscovered letter, now over 40 years old, came to light through an extensive interview conducted by biographer David Garrow.
The Curiosity
Garrow’s curiosity led him to uncover the previously redacted sections of the letter in his biography titled “Rising Star.”
The Letter Was Transcribed
While the letter resides in the archives of Emory University, it was shared by Harvey Klehr, a friend of Garrow’s, who transcribed the concealed segments by hand and shared them with the New York Post for publication.
Discussions Sparked
The emergence of this letter has sparked discussions about Obama’s evolution in his views on sexuality and marriage.
He Changed His Stance on Homosexual Marriage
The young Obama, who once detailed same-sex longings, would later change his stance on homosexual marriage.
In 2004, he expressed his skepticism about marriage being a civil right and downplayed homosexuality as a choice.
Obama Is Not the Only One
In response to the contents of the letter, Garrow asserted that Obama’s sexual fantasies during his youthful years were not atypical.
He said that many people have their share of such fantasies and that it’s a common aspect of human psychology.
More From His Past
Garrow, known for his historical insights, has also addressed other aspects of Obama’s past.
He Cheated on Michelle
He previously revealed how a young Obama had considered a gay relationship during college. He had cheated on Michelle with his ex during their early dating years.
Normalize Admitting to Sexual Fantasies
Several online users expressed their thoughts on the incident.
One user wrote, “Man I’m jaded. All I can think is, “What are they trying to hide by ‘revealing’ the fact that the gayest President we’ve had in my lifetime was gay?”
Another user wrote, “Many young adults and some older ones too, have sexual fantasies of all sorts but few will ever admit what they fantasize. Pretty meaningless and perfectly normal. It’s how you live your life that counts.”
The post Biographer Uncovers Historical Letter Revealing Obama’s Early Intellectual Exploration of Homosexuality first appeared on Wealthy Living.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Evan El-Amin. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
