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A Spotlight on Oscar Wilde

#WildeWednesdays – Each Wednesday of Pride Month, 2021

Putting a spotlight in honor of Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish literary figure tragically imprisoned for his sexuality.

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Imprisoned for his sexuality in 1895, Oscar Wilde is one of Ireland’s most popular literary figures, with iconic works such as The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.

Known for exploring the aesthetic and decadent movements in his work and in his personal life, Wilde had long hair, wore white silk stockings, and carried peacock feathers and orchids around the Trinity and Oxford campuses. Embracing his confidence and passion for surpassing cultural norms of the time, he became renowned for his look and his personality, long before his work was widely published.

Wilde was known for his poetry, stories, plays, and witticisms. He first started publishing poetry in the 1880s, and his work has continued to be published since his death – most recently in 2008, The Oscar Wilde Society published The Women of Homer.

Many of his works were acclaimed during the time they were published, and continue to be studied, celebrated, and produced. Musical adaptations of his (only) novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, as well as adaptations and interpretations of his plays, have been developed and staged all over the world. Biographical works of Wilde and his associates have been produced, telling the story of his life with an acceptance and perspective that Wilde could never have imagined.

In 1884, Wilde married Constance Lloyd, an Irish author. They had children, Cyril and Vyvyan, and, in the early years, hosted lavish gatherings with refined guests at their stylish home in Chelsea, London.

However, it was known to most that Wilde had his eye on other lovers, like Robert Ross, a Canadian-British journalist, and John Gray, a poet. He then met Lord Alfred Douglas, the son of the Marquis of Queensberry. Their affair was sensational in every sense: artistically, sexually, socially. Like others in 19th century Europe, the Marquis disapproved of this relationship and wasn’t hesitant to show it.

Using Wilde’s engagements in the Victorian underground network of gay prostitution, as well as using his novel and poetry, such as Wasted Days, against him, Wilde was imprisoned in England for two years for his homosexual acts. His health deteriorated rapidly while he was incarcerated, and he left for Paris the night of his release. Constance had taken their two children to Switzerland and changed their surname, and Wilde never saw them again. He died, on his own, of meningitis at 46.

Across the course of his beautifully colorful life, Wilde was an extremely popular figure. Not only was he creative, unapologetic, and – excuse the pun – quite wild, he had many relationships and friendships with the avant-garde.

His mother, Lady Wilde, was a poet under the name “Speranza” and a supporter of the Irish nationalist movement. His father, Sir William, was a surgeon, eye doctor, and a writer of folklore. His wife, Constance Lloyd, was a champion of women’s rights, and his brother, Willie, was a theatre critic, world traveler, and journalist.

And of course, there was Lord Alfred, known affectionately as Bosie. The two men fell deeply in love, and while their relationship only survived eight years, they went through so much together, from secret meetings to public arguments between their families, and indeed, the infamous trials.

Welcome to the final week of #WildeWednesdays, where we’ve explored Irish playwright Oscar Wilde, who faced public humiliation and persecution because he did not conform to the sexual norms of his time. Imprisoned, exiled, separated from his family, and slandered because he had relationships with men, Wilde died alone, in poverty and pain.

We know if he were alive today, Wilde would be embraced by his community in Dublin, London, and Paris. We know he could have continued to be a wonderful father, maybe he and Lord Alfred would have married, shared a home, shared a life – and we can only imagine what masterpieces he would write for the world to witness.

While we acknowledge the progress made for the LGBTQ+ community since Wilde’s incarceration, we also want to acknowledge that homosexuality was decriminalized in the UK just 54 years ago and in Ireland just 28 years ago.

We recognize that, as of 2021, 67 UN Member states have laws criminalizing same-sex relations. In Sudan, individuals found guilty of “sodomy” can be imprisoned for up to 7 years. In Saudi Arabia, you can be executed. 57% of transgender women of color earn under $10,000 a year and have a life expectancy of only 35.

The theme for New York Pride 2021 is “The Fight Continues,” and we encourage you to join us in this fight for human rights