Lavender marriage
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Lavender marriage is a term coined to describe a marriage between a man and a woman, in which one or both parties are, or are assumed to be homosexual. Usually, but not always, both parties are assumed to be complicit in a public deception to hide their homosexuality.
Although there have been a number of prominent lavender marriages in history, the phrase itself came into colloquial use during the 1920s, when the imposition of morality clauses into the contracts of Hollywood actors caused some homosexual stars to enter into marriages of convenience to protect their public reputations, and preserve their careers. The destruction of the career of MGM actor William Haines, who refused to end his relationship with his male partner, and enter into a marriage at MGM's discretion, was said to have caused a spate of couples to seek refuge in marriage.
While the term has passed from modern usage, rumors that the practice still occurs to protect careers continue to surround some high profile celebrity couples.
Among the couples and individuals who have been reported or rumored to have entered "lavender marriages", in the absence of any evidence or admission, are:
- King James I/VI of England/Scotland and Anne of Denmark. James appears to have been bisexual. The couple had eight children. Contemporary Court records speak of rivalries over James' 'male favourites', whom historians have concluded were his homosexual lovers, and whose existence and role caused scandal at the time.
- Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor
- Janet Gaynor and Adrian
- Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli
- Mary Martin during both of her marriages
- Rudolph Valentino and Jean Acker
- Rudolph Valentino and Natacha Rambova
- Rock Hudson, who under movie studio pressure, and worried about rumours that a magazine was planning to expose his homosexuality, married Phyllis Gates, a young woman who worked in the film studio.
- Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford
- Kirstie Alley and Parker Stevenson