A little history of LGBT greatness in the Military History of the Western World

 When Pete Hegseth and his Right followers speak of war fighters mainly in the context of white heterosexual males, they demonstrate either their complete ignorance of history or their unwillingness to acknowledge it.  Although people who we describe today as LGBT often hid this fact in the ancient world, we do know or suspect some interesting things.

 

We begin with Alexander the Great which evidence shows liked it both ways.  In this he was not alone.  There were many gay men who served in the armies of various Greek city states and even served in the military of Sparta. 

 

Most scholars believe there was an elite band of gay lovers known as the Sacred Band of Thebes.  This band consisted of 150 pairs of male lovers.  They were the Seal Team 6 or British SAS of their time.  They were considered elite.  Founded in 378 BCE, they continued until they were defeated by Phillip of Macedon, Alexander the Great’s father, in 338 BCE.  When Phillip discovered the 300 slain warriors locked together in a last embrace, he reportedly wept because of the loss of such valor.  The ancient Greeks did not consider homosexuality a problem at all, and some city states even encouraged it in their military.

 

Roman general and dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla fought hard and partied even harder.  He liked it both ways, but no one could argue against his ability as a general.  Those who did were generally massacred.  It is interesting that Elon Musk compares himself to Sulla.

 

As I said before, sometimes, people had to hide their sexuality just as they do today.  Of Julius Caesar it was reported that he was “every woman’s husband and every man’s wife.”  While this is obviously a very clever slur by his enemies, there were rumors that as a young man, he had an affair with Roman client king Nicomedes IV of Bithynia.  We do not know if the rumors are true, but the rumors have persisted.

 

I personally think King Richard the Lionheart, Richard I of England, married out of duty, but preferred men.  This cannot be proven of course, but it is something historians talk about.  This is a conclusion I have reached, but it is something others disagree with.

 

And then there is the real Cyrano de Bergerac (1628 – 1655).  Yes, there really was a real Cyrano.  He was a French writer, poet, soldier, and duelist who wrote hard, fought hard, dueled hard, and liked it both ways.  It appears Roxane was a creation of Edmond Rostand, the playwright who wrote the 1897 play Cyrano de Bergerac.  For purposes of our discussion, the real Cyrano was admired for his fighting prowess, though it is greatly exaggerated in the play, as well as is literary acumen.  The real Cyrano does seem to have had a big nose though.

 

Chevalier d’Eon (1728 – 1810) was a person with serious gender identity issues.  Despite this, he was a famous and well-respected French diplomat and one of the greatest spies in European history, playing a large part in the dominance of 18^th century France.

 

When Pete Hegseth hosted his weekend Fox and Friends show, the reason he did not begin the show with “Guten Morgen, meine Damen und Herren.” Was because of a gay guy from England named Alan Turing.  In fact, were it not for Turing, this blog post might well be written in German.  Never forget that England stood virtually alone for over two years before it got help from the United States, and by saying this, I mean no disrespect to Canada, the French Resistance, and Norwegians and others who helped England.  Turing was one of the most important people of World War II and when Hegseth uses his smart phone, he might also want to reflect that Alan Turing laid the ground work which eventually led to the smart phone, and that actress Heddy Lamar invented the Wi-Fi that allows him to access the internet.

 

Heddy Lamar did not fight directly in World War II.  But she did invent the main technology of Wi-Fi, the close proximity torpedo, and the close proximity anti aircraft defenses used by the US Navy during World War II and then during the cold war.  Actress Heddy Lamar escaped from Austria and because of her husband, an Austrian arms dealer, she literally knew more about the weapons and defenses systems of Nazi Germany then any person in the United States.  Her information was invaluable.  She acted and looked beautiful by day (and she was beautiful beyond belief) while she invented interesting weapons and technology at night.

 

Of course, other women were instrumental in war throughout history.  Since Pete Hegseth is a born-again Christian, he might reflect on the biblical Deborah who saved Israel from 20 years of oppression by the Canaanites.  (Judges 4 and 5).  And of course, the fierce Canaanite general was killed by another woman.  He might also reflect on Queen Boudica, the East England warrior queen who kicked Roman butt for a while, even sacking London before she was finally defeated along with her army in a decisive battle.  Boudica united several tribes and had several victories over Rome.

 

Queen Elizabeth, I led the English against the invincible Spanish Armada in 1588.  And while one could argue, as historian J F C Fuller does, that she had brilliant military commanders, the nation was fearful and demoralized.  She went among her navy and inspired a nation to achieve a miracle to save England.

 

Courage, determination, fortitude, and brilliance are not confined to race, gender, or ideology.  If history shows us anything, it shows us that heroes can emerge from unexpected quarters.  Those like Pete Hegseth who scream against DEI and WOKEness either are ignorant of history or choose to ignore it.  I have never been in combat.  I do not know how LGBT people affect the morale and makeup of the modern American military.  But I suspect that a single and somewhat ignorant point of view is being hoisted on the military, and we would do well to learn the lessons of history.