Lavender Marriages Hid Hollywood Stars

A lavender marriage is a mixed-orientation marriage that a man and a woman enter for convenience to conceal the stigmatized sexual orientation of one or both partners. The term arose in the early 20th century and became closely associated with Hollywood celebrity marriages, especially before World War II. During the 1920s, studios added morality clauses to actors' contracts, prompting some closeted stars to marry to protect their reputations and careers. These marriages became less common as public attitudes toward LGBTQ people changed later in the century.

Previous Fact Next Fact