Was King James I Really Gay?
Ah yes, King James. That King James. The one who paid for a translation of the Bible. He was James VI of Scotland and James I of England, succeeding Elizabeth I after she died without an heir.
And supposedly, he was gay.
Which, of course, causes some issues for those who think that homosexuality is profound.
So, was he?
Let’s examine the evidence.
James I was Married
Which, of course, means nothing. But he also fathered no less than eight children, of whom three survived to adult. His wife was Anne, the daughter of the King of Denmark and Norway.
This was, of course, an arranged marriage. So, piece of evidence against James I being gay: He had a long-term relationship with a woman, albeit one not of his choosing, and was able to perform well enough to father children.
Of course, not all gay men experience vagina repulsion and he was under a lot of pressure to father a lot of children, given England’s experience with the Tudors.
James I Had Several Male Lovers
James I’s most famous “favorite,” which was a euphemism, was of course George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham.