The Regency era (1811–1820) is often celebrated for its glittering assemblies, sharp wit, and romance—at least in fiction. In reality, beneath the polished manners and candlelit ballrooms, there existed a far more dangerous truth for those whose affections strayed from the heterosexual norm. Homosexuality, particularly between men, was not simply frowned upon; it was illegal, punishable by imprisonment, public humiliation, or even death.
Yet, in private drawing rooms and within certain elite circles, same-sex attraction continued to exist—quietly, cautiously, and often coded in language and gesture.
In my book “Companions of Their Childhood,” some of the characters have “same-sex attraction” (although not Darcy and Elizabeth). My goal, as with many of my other books, was to take a weighty topic and present it in a historically accruate manner. The research I conducted for that story is the basis of this post.
The Law: Criminalizing Male Homosexuality
By the Regency period, the legal status of homosexuality in England had already been codified for centuries. The most relevant statute was the Buggery Act of 1533, introduced under Henry VIII, which made sodomy (then referred to as “the detestable and abominable vice of buggery”) a capital offense. Although the law’s language was vague, it was understood to criminalize penetrative sexual acts between men.
By the early 19th century, this law was still very much in force. Male homosexual acts—even in private—could lead to:
- Execution by hanging (the ultimate penalty).
- Imprisonment (often with hard labor).
- Pillory or public whipping, especially for lesser charges like “attempted sodomy” or “indecent assault.”
Prosecutions tended to focus on cases where there was tangible evidence—witness testimony, caught-in-the-act situations, or letters. Nonetheless, the threat was real, and arrests were not uncommon.
Female Homosexuality: Ignored or Denied
Interestingly, there were no specific laws criminalizing sexual activity between women. Some historians suggest this was due to the prevailing belief that women could not engage in “real” sexual intercourse without a man, while others argue it was a deliberate omission to avoid publicizing such behavior.
However, the absence of law did not mean acceptance. Romantic or sexual relationships between women might be tolerated if conducted discreetly, but public knowledge or scandal could lead to ostracism, damaged reputations, and familial intervention.
Relationships between women—if kept discreet—could sometimes be framed as “romantic friendships.” These intense, emotionally charged bonds between women could include shared households, letters filled with devotion, and constant companionship.
In certain cases, these partnerships were quietly accepted, especially if they provided financial or social stability. The famous “Ladies of Llangollen,” Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, lived together in Wales for over 50 years, receiving notable visitors like the Duke of Wellington. Whether their relationship was sexual remains debated, but their example shows that lifelong same-sex companionship between women was possible without legal interference.
Policing Desire: The “Molly Houses”
In Georgian and Regency London, clandestine meeting places known as molly houses served as social hubs for men seeking male partners. These were part tavern, part private club, often hidden in the poorer districts. The term “molly” was slang for an effeminate man or male lover.
Molly houses provided rare spaces where men could meet, flirt, and sometimes engage in private liaisons. But they were also targets for police raids, particularly in periods of moral crackdown. Raids could lead to arrests, trials, and—in severe cases—executions. Some molly houses attempted to operate under the guise of ordinary taverns or coffee houses to avoid suspicion.
Public Trials and Scandals
The threat of exposure was ever-present. Public trials of men accused of sodomy or “attempted sodomy” were sensational events, drawing large crowds and being reported in detail by the newspapers. The accused could face ruin even if acquitted; reputational damage was often irreversible.
One notorious case just before the Regency was the 1810 trial of the “Vere Street Coterie,” in which a raid on a molly house led to the arrest of more than 20 men. Two were hanged; others were pilloried or imprisoned. Such events sent a clear message: male homosexual behavior would be punished harshly.
Private Worlds and Coded Language
Despite the risks, same-sex relationships did exist in all layers of society. In elite circles, wealthy and titled men could sometimes conduct discreet relationships—especially if they maintained a public façade of heterosexual respectability. Friendships between men in the military, at university, or within artistic communities sometimes carried romantic or sexual undertones hidden beneath the language of “intense friendship.”
Letters and diaries from the era reveal occasional passionate expressions between same-sex friends—phrases modern readers might interpret as romantic. However, historians caution that affectionate language in correspondence does not always indicate a sexual relationship; it was common for same-sex friends in the 18th and early 19th centuries to write with emotional warmth.
Glossary of Regency-Era Slang for Homosexuality
Language surrounding homosexuality in the Regency era was often coded, derogatory, or drawn from criminal slang. Many of these terms appeared in court transcripts, popular pamphlets, and satirical prints of the time.
- Molly – An effeminate man or a man who sought the company of other men; also used to describe patrons of molly houses.
- Molly House – A tavern, coffee house, or private room where men met for companionship or sexual encounters.
- Catamite – A young male partner of an older man, derived from the Latin Catamitus (itself a corruption of Ganymede, the beautiful boy of Greek myth carried off by Zeus).
- Ganymede – A poetic or literary reference to a beautiful youth loved by an older man; sometimes used euphemistically for a male lover.
- Tommy – Slang for a lesbian or a woman who engaged in same-sex relationships; more common in later 19th-century usage but known earlier.
- Sapphist – A learned or polite term for a lesbian, referencing the ancient Greek poet Sappho of Lesbos.
- Sodomite – A legal and moral term for a man who engaged in homosexual acts, specifically penetrative sex; heavily loaded with religious condemnation.
- Indecent Assault – The legal charge often brought when proof of sodomy was lacking; could cover a wide range of same-sex contact.
- Unnatural Crime / Unnatural Offence – Euphemisms used in legal and religious writing to describe homosexual acts without naming them directly.
Homosexuality in the Regency era existed in a paradox: at once criminalized and omnipresent, hidden yet woven into the fabric of certain social and artistic circles.
Society in this period placed strong emphasis on Biblical morality and the preservation of traditional family structures. For those who engaged in prohibited conduct, secrecy was not merely a matter of personal privacy—it was a matter of survival.
While history records that some individuals engaged in such conduct in secret, it was not tolerated when exposed. The prevailing expectation was that men and women would conform to established moral standards, marry within those bounds, and fulfill their roles in sustaining family and society.
This framework, deeply rooted in the values of the age, shaped how same-sex attraction was perceived and addressed in both law and custom, and it remains an important aspect of the history of the time, no matter how you personally view homosexuality today.
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