Homosexuality in the 18th Century?

Question

I am going to be writing a homoerotic story set in the 1700's.

Before I start writing this and then realise I made a horrible mistake and I have no idea about how gays went about sex etc in that era, I have decided to ask you wonderful people.

It is set on a British military ship in the 1700's (around 1750's ish if that makes a difference), the main problem that I have is that it is indeed set on a military ship, so I have no idea how I can write in sex.

Obviously I have alternatives, like it just being.. Not erotic? But I would rather try to avoid that, haha.

(Not even gonna lie,the movie 'Master and Commander: Far Side of The World' inspired a little bit of this)

So would anyone be so kind as to explain to me how it worked back then, I can't seem to find any websites that tell you.

And no homophobic answers please, it's just horrible and ignorant.

Thank you in advance c:

Answer 1

In the 18th century I'm sure gays went about sex very quietly and secretly. But they went about it doing the same things that are done now. Just not in public.



Since a ship is a pretty public place with little privacy there was no real opportunity for sex on ship board. But ships go into harbors and dock and sailors get shore leave. There they can find privacy.



Sailors at sea were and are cooped up for many weeks and months. They were young men and when they arrived in port they had a lot of sexual desire. Any port city had a lot of cheap hotels, prostitutes and low dives. If you can find some history about what sailors did while they were in port. And the situation has not changed; sailors still come into port and look for sex.



Then use your imagination. Suppose you were a sailor in the 18th century. You were on shore leave and wanted sex with a guy. Thing about how you might get it. Would you hook up with a guy you met on shore? Or would you try to find a ship board buddy who shared your desire?



Then write about it. Good luck.

Answer 2

Homosexuality was illegal in britain until 1967, in the 1700's anyone found having gay sex would have been punished very harshly, death in some cases. On a ship it would have been quite common, you just hoped you would not be caught, as for how they went about it, i would guess pretty much the same as today, there were gay brothels in most towns and cities too.

Answer 3

Men only shag other men then to show power over the other man

Answer 4

At that time homosexuality was a crime in most countries and in particular on any British Naval vessel (and, I believe, any Naval vessel of a European or American power) it was punishable by death. The person involved, whether Officer or ranker was usually hanged and their body buried on a sandbank at low tide. Homosexuality (in the UK) continued to be a crime punishable by imprisonment and public opprobrium until very recently, but I can't remember exactly when it became legal. Lesbianism was not treated so harshly, if only because the powers that be could not conceive of such an event - after all, everybody knew women didn't actually enjoy sex and only indulged in it to procreate ! I nfact as late as late 19th Century queen Victoria refused to believe that was ever possible - it cropped up as a result of a court case. As far as how they went about it, I would have thought it pretty obvious - in exactly the same way as they do now, and have always done.

Answer 5

In that case don't quit your day job just yet.