This has shocked everyone.
Former President Barack Obama discussed his own complex thoughts and imaginative explorations in a 1982 letter that has recently come to light. The letter, penned over 40 years ago to an ex-girlfriend named Alex McNear, offers insight into Obama’s contemplations on his mental landscape and feelings towards men.
According to the New York Post, in the letter, written when he was 21 and a student at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Obama delves into his perspective on homosexuality. He suggests that, for him, it might be a means of disengaging from the confines of daily life, a way to distance oneself from the repetitive drama of earthly existence. He shares that he engages in a mental connection with men, describing it as a form of lovemaking that occurs within the realm of his imagination.
Furthermore, Obama touches upon the concept of his mind being androgynous, indicating a desire to transcend gender boundaries and think of people beyond the dichotomy of women versus men. However, he acknowledges the reality of his physical body, acknowledging his identity as a man and choosing to embrace that aspect of himself.
This particular portion of the letter was initially redacted by McNear, who later dated Obama during his time at Occidental College. The redacted content was sought out by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David Garrow and eventually included in his biography of Obama, titled “Rising Star.”
The letter, which is now housed at Emory University, is not available for public photography or removal. To share its contents, Garrow’s friend Harvey Klehr transcribed the redacted paragraphs by hand and sent them to the author.
It’s worth noting that Obama’s musings, as revealed in this letter, are not deemed unusual by Garrow. The historian points out that human beings frequently harbor sexual fantasies and suggests that these thoughts are a common facet of the human experience. Obama, now a father of two and married to Michelle Obama since 1992, has evolved since the time of writing this letter, as have his perspectives and experiences.