Gay actresses in old hollywood

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The two lived together in what was described as a “Greenwich Village love nest” before Grant became a star. Patsy was one of the few Hollywood figures of her time to be openly gay, a bold stance in an era when most stars hid their true selves. Actor Jack Larson, one of Clift’s alleged former partners, noted that Clift was much more jovial and playful in private than his intense on-screen persona suggested.

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene was a trailblazer both on screen and off, challenging societal norms with her androgynous image and sultry performances.

Nypost.com.

Rock Hudson’s ‘True Love’ Speaks: How We Kept Our Gay Life Secret. She told a biographer she was a “big dyke” living with her girlfriend and had no intention of ever marrying [7].

Kelly’s openness about her relationships, including a romantic connection with actress Tallulah Bankhead, who was also forthright about her bisexuality, set her apart in Hollywood.

Advocate.com.

Marlene Dietrich – A Woman Ahead of Her Time. Renowned for her roles in films like Morocco, where she famously wore a tuxedo, Dietrich was a pioneering figure in fashion and sexuality. In his memoir, Songs My Mother Taught Me, he denied claims of a relationship with James Dean, a topic of much supposition.

Greta Garbo

Author Diana McLellan, in her extensive research, uncovered that Garbo had passionate affinities with mostly women, despite her highly publicized tenderness to John Gilbert.

In 1968, Novarro was murdered by two brothers, Paul & Tom Ferguson, who believed he had hidden money in his home [20]. We all pretended to be straight [17].”

The relationship eventually ended because Garlington desired a father figure, while Hudson, though a towering 6’4″, was more of “a gentle giant.” After Hudson’s death, Garlington was moved to tears when he discovered in a biography that Hudson had referred to him as his “true love.” “I broke down and cried,” Garlington confessed, admitting he had never realized how much he meant to Hudson.

Ruby Dandridge

Born in Wichita, Kansas, Ruby Dandridge’s career in Hollywood began when she arrived in Los Angeles.

Some don't even have the guts to say they're bi ... Garlington described their relationship as a secret romance, noting how the two would attend film premieres together, always accompanied by female dates to avoid suspicion. She reportedly engaged in a sort of lover’s ping-pong with Mercedes, who would escape into Dietrich’s arms whenever Garbo discarded her.

His candidness about his bisexuality set him apart in an era when such openness was rare. Additionally, there have been speculations about Garbo’s tender sensations for her preadolescence friend Mimi Pollack [11].

Recent biographers and scholars have suggested that Garbo might have been bisexual, conceivably even “predominantly lesbian.” In 1927, she was presented to stage and screen actress Lilyan Tashman, and they are rumored to have had an affair.

In the 1950s, being labeled as gay could end a career or worse, and many lived in fear of being outed. By Aljean Harmetz. These legends didn’t just shape the silver screen—they quietly but powerfully laid the groundwork for a more inclusive future, both in Hollywood and beyond.

Nytimes.com.

Tab Hunter on (Almost) Being Outed in 1955: “I Thought My Career Was Over” (Guest Column). In the 1970s, Lynde lived with his hairstylist, "suite mate," and "chauffeur-bodyguard," Stan Finesmith.

Despite his campy image, Lynde's private life and sexual orientation were not directly acknowledged or discussed on television or in other media during his lifetime.

Grant’s daughter, Jennifer Grant, has disputed the allegations, through her spokeswoman, saying in 2012 that her father was “very straight,” according to The New York Times.

He was often cast in romantic roles, paired with leading ladies who represented the era’s ideals of love and beauty. “Nobody in their right mind came out,” Garlington explained.