Why I Started 18th Century Pride

When I came out as bisexual, one of my friends sent me an article which argued that Alexander Hamilton may have been bi. This was an eye-opening moment for me; I’d never thought about what life was like for people of different sexualities and genders farther back than maybe the 1960s. I immediately had all sorts of questions: if Hamilton was attracted to more than one gender, did he understand that as a fixed part of his identity? What language did he have to describe his sexuality? Did he hate himself for being different? And what about his society at large? Did they understand that people could be attracted to more than one gender? How did they talk about it?

I had to find answers to these questions, so I began to research. I found that there were LGBT+ historians who came before me, who had unearthed a whole world of diverse sexuality and gender in the past. I also found that there was still much to be discovered; academics and casual readers of history alike often erase and ignore these parts of history. I decided I wanted to contribute to our knowledge of LGBT+ people in 1700s America, so in Pride Month of 2019 I started 18th Century Pride.

About the Author

My name is Megan Gackler, and I am a cisgender bisexual woman. I have been interested in United States history since I was a little kid, and I’ve been researching LGBT+ history since I came out in high school. I am currently in college, majoring in History with a minor in LGBT Studies. My favorite era to study is the founding of the United States (roughly 1750-1830), and my favorite LGBT+ historical figure to study is Alexander Hamilton.

Where does my work fit in Queer Historical Theory? (Am I a Constructionist or an Essentialist?)

Pardon Our Dust!

There is nothing here right now, because I have no idea where I stand on Queer Historical Theory! I am currently undertaking a perilous journey through the realm of theory to find out; if I should return alive, I’ll let you know what I found!