Who's that Queer?

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Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was a playwright, poet and author of numerous short stories and one novel. Known for his biting wit, he became one of the most successful playwrights of the Victorian Era in London, and one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Several of his works remain popular today, especially The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray. As the result of a widely covered series of trials, Wilde suffered a dramatic downfall and was imprisoned for two years after being convicted of "gross indecency" with other men.

While at Magdalen College, Wilde became particularly well known for his role in the aesthetic and decadent movements. He began wearing his hair long and openly scorning so-called "manly" sports, and began decorating his rooms with peacock feathers, lilies, blue china and other objets d'art. Legends persist that his behaviour cost him a dunking in the River Cherwell in addition to having his rooms (which still survive as student accommodation at his old college) trashed.

Though married with children, Wilde is considered by most historians to be bisexual or homosexual. He had significant sexual relationships with Frank Miles, Robert Baldwin Ross, and Lord Alfred Douglas (known as "Bosie"). Wilde also had numerous sexual encounters with working-class male youths, who were often male prostitutes.

Wilde and Douglas in 1893

In 1895, John Sholto Douglas, 9th Marquess of Queensberry, father of Wilde's lover Lord Alfred Douglas, came to believe his sons had been corrupted by older homosexuals, or as he phrased it in a letter, "Snob Queers like Rosebery." The verbal accusations led Wilde to a file a lawsuit for libel, but ended with Wilde being sent to prison for gross indeceny with other men.

Source: wikipedia