NationStates Jolt Archive

So this whole gay controversy has gotten me thinking. What if there was a gay president, and he elected his husband.

What would he be called? Or if a woman was elected?

First Lady is kind of weird, so maybe First Man...

Anyway, I don't think our world is ready for either of it.

We ain't ready.

They'll probably have an answer for this question in 100 years.

Which is the earliest this is ever likely to be a problem.

Wasn't the first George Bush married to a man? Bob R. Bush or something?

I saw a picture of them once.

The same as what they would call the husband of a female president, whatever that is...

I can't see it as the most pressing concern in the world I must admit!

Why would he be first anything?
I mean, why is there even such a term as "first lady"? It's not an office or anything they needed to apply/get elected for, is it?

Calvin and Hobbes coined "First Husband"...

Calvin and Hobbes coined "First Husband"...

Oh, I remember that one... when Susie is president, right? :D

States with female Governors seem to use the term "First Gentleman" so I imagine the US would use the same title.

Why would he be first anything?
I mean, why is there even such a term as "first lady"? It's not an office or anything they needed to apply/get elected for, is it?

AFAIK it is purely ceremonial and defined by tradition.

Another solution would be to drag out the closest female relative and make here first lady. Frex Chelsea would be FL if Hilary was POTUS.

In a similar way that Andrew Jackson (and I think at least one other) had their neice as first lady. Not having a wife and all.

TBH though. There are more important things then this ceremonial trivia, as diverting as they may be :)

Anyway, I don't think our world is ready for either of it.
What do you mean, not ready? We haven't had a gay president since the United States was founded; I say it's about time!

First Spouse.

Which would be interesting if they were a second, or third marriage....

I don't think it's just America, I don't think in the history of the modern world their has ever been a gay head of state.

I don't think it's just America, I don't think in the history of the modern world their has ever been a gay head of state.

Well, not in modern times, anyway.
Might not be far off, though, Berlin's mayor married his partner a couple years ago I remember.

I don't think it's just America, I don't think in the history of the modern world their has ever been a gay head of state.

I think some Popes, Emperors and King's would disagree with you.

I couldn't name any off the top of my head but I'd bet there's some.

EDIT: Oh, modern world, I stand corrected... possibly.

Well, not in modern times, anyway.
Might not be far off, though, Berlin's mayor married his partner a couple years ago I remember.

Yeah somehow I just knew I was going to get pulled up on that statement, which is why I slipped 'modern' in. I believe Alexander the Great was bisexual (although that isn't explicitly stated consider that having sex with men was part of all Greek males culture when growing up), but I am thinking pretty hard and I can't seem to think of any historical 'leader' of a country or the like you was gay.

:D

Maybe we need to ease into it with a bi-curious head of state....




ok, bad Kat....

I think some Popes.
Yeah but that's what happens when you repress sexuality by force, a good part of the catholic clergy are mentally messed up because of that.

Well, not in modern times, anyway.
Might not be far off, though, Berlin's mayor married his partner a couple years ago I remember.

And don't forget Bertrand Delanöe, Mayor of Paris and possible candidate for President in 2012.

What do you mean, not ready? We haven't had a gay president since the United States was founded; I say it's about time!

There is the theory that James Buchanan was gay, but it's very flimsy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexuality_of_James_Buchanan

He wouldn't get elected. Even if the other candidate was Hitler 2 or something. And a woman. Also Hispanic.

What about the spouses of a polygamist bisexual president?

What about the spouses of a polygamist bisexual president?
First Spouse, Second Spouse, Third Spouse...

States with female Governors seem to use the term "First Gentleman" so I imagine the US would use the same title.

seems right to me. it has symmetry with "first lady"

seems right to me. it has symmetry with "first lady"
Yup. We call the spouse of our lady president "First Gentleman."

Anyway, I don't think our world is ready for either of it.

First LORD I'd guess.

Anyway, hell, I think MY world is ready.

I can't seem to think of any historical 'leader' of a country or the like you was gay.


Publius Aelius Hadrianus, roman emperor comes to my mind. Maybe it's time we try again with a gay world leader... if Hadrianus is what we're likely to get.

Oh, I remember that one... when Susie is president, right? :D
And Calvin has to do all the (White) housework :D.

First Spouse, Second Spouse, Third Spouse...

Let them fight among themselves about who gets to be 'first'? :P

Let them fight among themselves about who gets to be 'first'? :P
And make a reality TV show out of it!

Publius Aelius Hadrianus, roman emperor comes to my mind. Maybe it's time we try again with a gay world leader... if Hadrianus is what we're likely to get.


When our country goes into Anarchy...and Barrack is assassinated...Maybe a gay person will assume control...I just don't want another assignation...:headbang:

I was on the understanding that McCain's gimp was to be referred to as little bobby poo bucket

When our country goes into Anarchy...

anarchists! anarchists!!!1 *panics like its the 1790's*

As much as you may have the dance fever, I believe that our country is producing horrible leaders, and our country is eventually going to crash like my computer or the Romans!

As much as you may have the dance fever, I believe that our country is producing horrible leaders, and our country is eventually going to crash like my computer or the Romans!

are you suggesting that a country can have good leaders? what sort of Bolshevism is this!

(-20 for comparing the USA to Rome)

As far as I know, it should be "First Gentleman". It is used abroad, in countries that have female presidents. In spanish, at least, is "Primer Caballero", perfect translation of "First Gentleman".

I don't think it's just America, I don't think in the history of the modern world their has ever been a gay head of state.
OPENLY gay, you mean. I'm sure it has actually happened several times. In the US, James Buchanan was the only President never to have been married, and had been living for years with [Somebody] King, Franklin Pierce's Vice President (can't remember the first names of all the Vice Presidents off the top of my head and can't be troubled to look him up now) who was the only Vice President never to have been married. It is commonly assumed he was gay: we would be "prouder" to claim him if he wasn't high on the list of Most Inept Presidents of All Times (say what you will about Dubya, Buchanan's record as "only President who was President over fewer states at the end of his term than at the beginning" is unlikely to be broken).
I believe Alexander the Great was bisexual Doubtful. It is unquestionable that he slept with men (his favorite lover was named Hephaistion, and it was the death of Hephaistion which sent him on the downward spiral of depression and compulsive drinking that led to his fatal malaria), but there is no firm evidence of him sleeping with women. He "married" all the women in the former harem of the Persian king for political reasons, but we do not know whether he bothered to consummate any of those. After much pressure to marry for real (one asked him, "But who will rule after you are gone?" and he said, "The strongest!") he chose the lovely Roxanna, and it is probable that he genuinely loved her, since there was no particular political advantage to the match (she was princess from a minor kingdom in Bactria, now part of Afghanistan). So the odds are that he slept with her a few times at least, but he paid less attention to her over time, and although she was pregnant when Alexander died, her claims that the son she bore was his were never taken seriously by anyone.

We've had two female presidents and this has never come up.

If we have a first lady, then shouldn't a man in that possision be first lord;)?

If we were to follow traditional construction, he would be "first lord". However, since we tend to not like titles like that, most likely "first husband"