Abraham Lincoln’s Gay Sex Life Gets Explored in Lavender Men Trailer

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Abraham Lincoln’s Gay Sex Life Gets Explored in Lavender Men Trailer

We know that Abraham Lincoln married Mary Todd for two decades until John Wilkes Booth assassinated him. But could the 16th president have lived a double life with male suitors? Lincoln’s sexuality gets explored in the trailer of the LGBTQIA+ movie Lavender Men.

Based on Roger Q. Mason’s stage play of the same name, Lavender Men raises the question of Abraham Lincoln’s sexuality. Mason co-wrote the screenplay with the film’s director, Lovell Holder. The duo worked together on the critically acclaimed stage play, which premiered in 2022 at L.A.’s Skylight Theater Company.

Lovell Holder spoke to THR about how he’s known Roger Q. Mason since they were teenagers and some kind words about their new project:

“I never imagined in 2025 we’d officially release the feature film adaptation,” said Holder. “This film was a genuine labor of love between close friends and trusted collaborators, shot over 10 days on a shoestring budget with adrenaline and passion for this story as everyone’s primary motivator. I hope this film serves as a rally cry, a fountain of joy and a grounding of purpose for the LGBTQIA+ movement in the U.S. and abroad at a time when we need stories which affirm, empower and embolden us more than ever.”

The entertainment industry has explored Abraham Lincoln’s bisexuality before. Last fall’s documentary, Lover of Men: The Untold History of Abraham Lincoln, centered on the speculation of whether or not the U.S. president was gay. Outcry followed from Elon Musk and conservative figures. There’s also the comedy play Oh Mary!, which had Mary longing to live a life as a cabaret singer while Lincoln uses his wife to hide his sexuality.

What happens in the Lavender Men trailer?

In the trailer of Lavender Men, we see a lonely stage manager, Taffeta (played by Roger Q. Mason), becoming frustrated at their Abe Lincoln play. Delving into their mind, they create a fantasy that questions if Abe Lincoln had male suitors like his legal assistant, Elmer Ellsworth. Taffeta makes sure to give their commentary while portraying every other character in their mental stage play like an army cadet, Mary Todd Lincoln, and even a tree.

The trailer concludes with Taffeta saying, “You can be anything. You can be anyone. I promise you, anything is possible.” You can watch the trailer in full below:

Lavender Men will hit limited theatrical release on May 2nd in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, and New York.