Video Podcasts

Homosexuality, Single Men and the American Revolution

Image of Adel Aali (program host) and his guest, Prof. Joel Richard Paul, superimposed on the Betsy Ross flag, along with images of a man dressed as a macaroni with huge wig topped by a small tricorn hat, and carrying a tasseled cane and sword. This image is a satire of fashion in the 18th century, and the man is also referred to as a "fop". Also in this image are covers of two books by Dr. John G. McCurdy, our program guest: "Vicious and Immoral: Homosexuality, the American Revolution, and the Trials of Robert Newburgh", and "Citizen Bachelors: Manhood and the Creation of the United States". All images in public domain. Visit AARevolution.net for more images of the American Revolution and for interviews of scholars with Adel Aali.

Updated: May 28, 2026 Introduction In this interview: “Pennsylvania… one of the first acts Pennsylvania will do is to remove sodomy from being a capital crime.” Watch this segment in the video below (24:19) Why would Revolutionary Americans reduce penalties for sodomy… while Britain was intensifying prosecutions? Why was homosexuality viewed differently in parts of […]