Was Lizzie Borden Really a Lesbian? the True Story Behind the Screen Portrayal
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Victorian New England operated under rigid concepts of female propriety. Unmarried women of independent wealth frequently engaged in what historians categorize as "Boston marriages", lifelong, monogamous domestic partnerships between women that society tolerated under the protective guise of intense platonic devotion. Whether Borden's private life aligned with this tradition remains ambiguous because Borden burned many personal papers prior to her death.
Lizzie changed her legal name to Lizbeth A. Borden after the trial, spending her fortune on luxury carriages, fine books, and theater tickets. Fall River society shunned her entirely. Central Baptist Church, where she had previously taught Sunday school, effectively revoked her social standing. Her alienation deepened when rumors circulated regarding her closeness to bohemian women from Boston's theater circuit.
When Borden died from pneumonia on June 1, 1927, her will distributed substantial sums to the Animal Rescue League of Boston alongside private bequests to household staff. The absence of male suitors across her entire life led 20th-century biographers like Edward D. Radin to categorize her as fundamentally asexual or romantically non-conforming. Without surviving correspondence, historians cannot definitively assign modern LGBTQ+ terminology to her inner emotional life.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
