In '' Love Stories : Sex Between Men Before Homosexuality '' , American LGBT historian Jonathan Ned Katz explores notable incidents of same-sex love prior to the creation of the word " homosexual " — a time that Katz describes as " the universe before that great sexual divide . " Katz 's research suggests that prior to distinguishing this binary ( heterosexual-homosexual ) , men felt freer to explore feelings of intense intimacy for other men without feeling judged or stigmatized by societal views . Katz writes , " We may refer to early-nineteenth-century men 's acts or desires as gay or straight , homosexual , heterosexual , or bisexual , but that places their behaviors and lusts within our sexual system , not the system of their time . " One example that Katz examines in his book is the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and his friend Joshua Fry Speed . In 1837 , the two men began rooming together their first night of meeting , sharing Speed 's double bed for the sake of logic and convenience , and quickly developed a close relationship . The two maintained an intimate bond until Lincoln 's death in 1865 . Although there is no evidence that Lincoln and Speed had a sexual physical relationship , Speed once stated about his relationship with Lincoln that " no men were ever more intimate . " Throughout the 1700s , there was an extensive sexual policing of young people . The restrictions in place included mandatory chaperones when on dates and attending public events , as well as other socially acceptable customs such as bundling . The latter refers to times when a male courter would spend the night in the same bed as his female companion — which was often both necessary and practical , as many courters lived a fair distance from their love interests and the majority of homes had limited beds . When bundling , both partners remained fully clothed and wrapped in separate blankets , sometimes with a " bundling board " between their bodies , to ensure that no sexual activity would take place . Many intimate same-sex friendships were developed as a response to such sexual policing practices . Intimate relationships between friends were considered a socially acceptable method of sexual expression outside of marriage , as well an outlet for emotional desire that was otherwise limited at this time
Lincoln 's death
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Same-sex intimacy