Did you know that President John F. Kennedy's closest lifelong friend was a gay man who may have been in love with him? His name was Kirk LeMoyne “Lem” Billings, and his relationship with JFK is one of the lesser-known stories in American presidential history and LGBTQ+ history. The two met in 1933 at Choate Preparatory School, becoming inseparable friends. They traveled together, exchanged hundreds of letters, and maintained a close relationship for approximately 30 years. But there's another part of this story. Lem Billings was gay, something he kept largely private during an era when homosexuality was heavily stigmatized. According to historian and biographer David Pitts, Billings may have been romantically in love with John F. Kennedy. Billings reportedly made an early romantic advance toward Kennedy, which Kennedy declined. Despite that, their friendship continued. Billings became so close to the Kennedy family that he attended family gatherings, spent time with Jacqueline Kennedy and their children, and even had a room available to him at the White House during JFK's presidency. Their relationship has led to speculation about whether John F. Kennedy himself might have been gay or bisexual. However, there is no credible historical evidence establishing that JFK and Lem Billings had a romantic or sexual relationship. The best-documented accounts describe a deep, lifelong friendship, with Billings's romantic feelings apparently unreciprocated. And perhaps that's what makes their story so fascinating. At a time when being openly gay could destroy someone's career and reputation, one of America's most famous presidents maintained an extraordinarily close friendship with a gay man. The history of JFK and Lem Billings reminds us that LGBTQ+ people have always been part of American history, including the personal lives of some of its most powerful figures. #JFK #LemBillings #learnhistoryontitok #AmericanHistory #History - @deffnotantt