During his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1982, former President Barack Obama was romantically involved with Alex McNear, and they exchanged letters.
Recently, one of these letters has resurfaced, shedding light on Obama’s complex thoughts on sexuality.
At the age of 21, Obama wrote to McNear expressing his views on homosexuality, stating that he believed it could be a way to detach oneself from reality and avoid the repetitive nature of life.
In a rather cryptic confession, he shared, “I engage in intimate relationships with men in my mind on a daily basis.”
Obama also revealed his belief in an androgynous mind and his aspiration to transcend gender distinctions in his thinking.
Despite this, he acknowledged his physical male identity and expressed his acceptance of this aspect of his life.
Expressing his desire for gender equality, Obama aimed to perceive individuals as human beings rather than categorizing them based on their gender.
This perspective showcased his progressive views on gender and sexuality even at a young age.
The emergence of this 40-year-old letter was brought to public attention by Pulitzer Prize winner and Obama biographer, David Garrow, during an interview.
The letter, currently safeguarded by Emory University, has restricted access, with its content closely monitored.
Interestingly, the letter may have remained hidden if not for the efforts of Harvey Klehr, a close friend of Garrow, who transcribed the letter by hand and shared it with the biographer.
However, certain portions of the letter were redacted, leaving some details undisclosed.
Addressing the controversy surrounding the letter, Garrow, emphasizing his role as a historian rather than a psychologist, pointed out the commonplace nature of s–ual fantasies among individuals.
He noted, “It is widely known that a significant
