Unveiling 1720s London: The Secret Queer Life Behind ‘Sweetheart’ and Anna Wintour’s Support

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Way back, even prior to “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” there existed Molly Houses – secretive social clubs for the LGBTQ+ community, hidden within London during the 1700s.

Yes, the 1700s.

During the daytime, these establishments functioned as typical cafes, however, once the sun set, they transformed into clandestine venues catering to same-sex communities, featuring drag shows, intimate activities, and other such events. At the peak of their fame, there were over two dozen of these venues scattered across London.

18th-century English slang term “Molly Houses” are vividly portrayed in the scripted short film “Sweetheart.” This tale revolves around a young man named Eben Figueiredo, who is introduced to the clandestine LGBTQ+ subculture hidden within London society of 1723.

Under the direction of Luke Wintour and penned by Alastair Curtis, the movie is set to debut on Thursday, January 23rd, during the Sundance Film Festival.

During our Zoom interview, Wintour shared with me that Molly Houses are often thought to be the origin of the concept known as camp. He explained that these houses were instrumental in establishing drag within the LGBTQ+ community in the UK. It’s astonishing to think that this phenomenon dates back approximately 300 years.

Stepping into the world of “The Molly Houses,” I found myself immersed in a tale that draws heavily from real-life accounts of numerous men arrested during police raids in the 18th century. Every scene, every detail in this film is rooted in historical facts. They engaged in mock weddings and baptisms, even staging absurd spectacles such as ‘giving birth’ to a doll or a cheese wheel, or a fireplace bellows! This film offers a unique glimpse into a forgotten chapter of history, shedding light on the lives and customs of these marginalized individuals.

Wintour aims to develop the initial project into a complete-length film. He elaborated, “We’re focusing on the narrative surrounding the emergence of corruption, including bribery and blackmail.” He continued, “These vibrant queer groups would frequent cruising spots, attempting to solicit sex. However, three friends would suddenly appear from nowhere, demanding 50 pounds or they’d take the individual to court. This led to sensational court cases involving bribery and blackmail, followed by countersuits because extortion and blackmail were illegal at the time.

Aunt Wintour, who is none other than Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, has been a strong supporter of Wintour’s queerness and filmmaking endeavors. “She’s very supportive,” he said. “This summer, I showed her my movie ‘Sweetheart’ for the first time… She loved it! There was some awkward laughter at the explicit sex scene at the start, as any loving relative might react.

He mentioned, “She’s made a tremendous impact on the LGBTQ+ community in various ways throughout the years, and she certainly serves as a significant source of inspiration in multiple aspects.

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2025-01-23 22:47