Here, we present 10 influential literary figures, exploring their lives, works, and the challenges they faced due to their identities.

Sappho (circa 630–570 BCE)

“Someone, I tell you, in another time will remember us.”

We begin with Sappho, one of the most recognisable figures in queer history. Plato called her “the tenth Muse” and she was also referred to as “the Poetess”, just as Homer was called “the Poet”. The lyrical poetry of this ancient Greek poetess from the island of Lesbos—much of which is lost—focused on passion and love for multiple women.

Her relationships with women have led to the creation of the word lesbian. Her poetry has been interpreted as expressing homoerotic desire, making her one of the earliest known LGBTQ+ poets.

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

Walt Whitman was an American poet, author, essayist, and journalist. His epic poems Leaves of Grass and Song of Myself contain several homoerotic images, leading to debates about his sexual orientation.

Whitman often denied any homoerotic subtext, yet those who knew him claimed he was quite open about his sexuality. After meeting Whitman in 1882, Oscar Wilde insisted Whitman was gay, stating, “I have the kiss of Walt Whitman still on my lips.” Whitman suffered from poor health later in life and died in 1892 of lung-related illnesses.

Virginia Woolf (1882–1941)

“I am made and remade continually. Different people draw different words from me.”

Virginia Woolf was an English writer and one of the foremost modernists of the 20th century. Her important works include Mrs Dalloway, To the Lighthouse, and Orlando. Woolf’s relationships with women, particularly with Vita Sackville-West, were considered scandalous at the time. Her works often explore the fluidity of gender and sexuality, reflecting her own experiences.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

Oscar Wilde, an Irish novelist and poet, is remembered for his novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the drama surrounding its publication.

Wilde faced harsh criticism for its depiction of “immorality,” and he toned down the homoerotic subtext in later editions. In 1895, Wilde’s libel case against the Marquess of Queensberry led to his arrest and conviction on charges of sodomy and gross indecency.

Wilde’s famous “the love that dare not speak its name” speech highlighted the nobility of same-sex love. After two years in prison, he spent his remaining years in exile and died destitute in Paris in 1900.

James Baldwin (1924–1987)

“Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”

James Baldwin was an American novelist and prominent civil rights figure. Frustrated by discrimination in the US, Baldwin emigrated to France at age 24. His novel Giovanni’s Room faced criticism for its portrayal of homosexuality and bisexuality.

In the 70s and 80s, Baldwin boldly wrote about homosexuality and homophobia. He died of stomach cancer in France in 1987, and his remains were interred in Hartsdale, New York.

Truman Capote (1924–1984)

Truman Capote revolutionised true-crime writing with his 1966 publication of In Cold Blood. Known for Breakfast at Tiffany’s and A Christmas Memory, Capote was openly gay.

While he was not active in the gay rights movement, his openness about his identity was a significant milestone. Capote, known for his wit and humour, died at 59 of liver disease and drug intoxication.

Yukio Mishima (1925–1970)

Yukio Mishima, a prominent Japanese writer, was an author, poet, playwright, actor, model, and film director. His first novel, Confessions of a Mask, is a semi-autobiographical tale about concealing his homosexuality in Imperial Japan. Mishima’s sexuality is debated; he may have been a gay man who married a woman or possibly bisexual.

A nationalist, Mishima founded the Tatenokai right-wing militia and, after a failed coup, died by seppuku, a ritual suicide. His novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea was adapted into a British film six years after his death.

Langston Hughes (1902–1967)

Born in Missouri in 1902, Hughes was a leading force in the Harlem Renaissance and a poet, scholar, activist, and black man. His difficult relationship with his father inspired his story Blessed Assurance.

While his sexuality remains debated, some biographers believe he incorporated homoromantic subtext into his works. Hughes never married and died in 1967. His ashes are interred at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.

Tennessee Williams (1911–1983)

“I’ve got the guts to die. What I want to know is, have you got the guts to live?”

Tennessee Williams, an American playwright, is known for The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His dysfunctional family inspired much of his work. Williams’s homosexuality was an open secret, and many of his works deal with gay themes. His later life was marked by drugs, alcohol, and depression after the death of his long-time partner, Frank Merlo.

Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997)

Born in Newark, New Jersey, on June 3, 1926, Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and a leading figure of the Beat Generation. His groundbreaking poem, Howl, challenged societal norms and addressed issues of sexuality and freedom. Ginsberg faced legal challenges for the explicit content of his work and was an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights during a controversial time.

These authors and poets have shaped the literary landscape with their distinctive voices and have navigated the complexities of their identities in often unwelcoming societies. Their legacies inspire and challenge us, reminding us of literature’s enduring power to reflect and transform our world.