"It seemed the right thing to do!": Mixed-orientation marriages and emotions in post-war Scotland

Recently, the validation of same-sex relationships has been bolstered by the recognition of the law through numerous ‘equal’ marriage provisions across a host of nations. Yet, in the years before ‘equal’ marriage, and indeed, before decriminalization in Scotland in 1980, such an option was unavailable and some chose to comply with familial and societal expectations. As marriage during the post-war period was presented as involving emotional support and connection, did heterosexual marriage present an emotional refuge or create further layers of disconnection and emotional suffering? Through the analysis of oral history testimony, this chapter examines the experiences of four gay and bisexual men, and the implications heterosexual marriage held for their emotional lives. Ultimately, these men strove for emotional security, and a buffer against societal homophobia, which heterosexual marriage could not provide