Since the Gay Mafia (or
Velvet Mafia) is generally a term that refers to
upper-echelon homosexual members of the arts, music and fashion community, this alone
should exclude the late, former FBI director, John Edgar Hoover (1895-1972). The term
"Homosexual Mafia" was first coined in 1967 (in an article that
Playboy rejected). The term "Velvet Mafia" was first used in the
1970s, and the word "Velvet" was later replaced by "Gay." The term only gained
widespread usage in the 1980s and 1990s. There are several specific reasons why Hoover
was never a "member" of the "Velvet
Mafia."
- Since Hoover died in 1972, the term had
not become widespread in use (or possibly even coined
yet). - Hoover vehemently denied being a homosexual. Since
"Velvet Mafia" associates were usually openly gay, this would eliminate
Hoover. - Although Hoover has been accused of
cross-dressing, in no way can he be considered a member of the fashion
industry.
Hoover did have a connection with
"gay" and "Mafia," however--the Italian Mafia, that is. According to one source,
journalist Anthony Summers,
... the Mafia had blackmail material on Hoover,
and that as a consequence, Hoover had been reluctant to aggressively pursue organized
crime.
Hoover has also been
accused of spreading homosexual rumors about several of his opponents, including former
Presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson. Hoover also kept files on the supposed lesbian
lovers of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Such actions do not a "Velvet Mafia"
member make.
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