# Was J.Edgar Hoover gay? Does it matter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 7, 2022, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-j-edgar-hoover-gay-does-it-matter/976136 "2022-12-07T11:55:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 22
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-j-edgar-hoover-gay-does-it-matter/976136/22 "2022-12-08T12:15:38Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > I’ve been in clearance-related jobs for 35 years. One thing I’ve learned is that they don’t care a whole lot about what you’ve done, but any hint of dishonesty or evasiveness will get you in trouble. When I hire people I tell them, “Be 100% truthful on your security application, and there probably won’t be any issues.” I am guessing you didn’t try to be over smart and ask questions about the process (“for a friend”) on the Dope [as a certain dumbass once did (14 years ago)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/security-clearance-rules-and-effects/465578/24). I am old enough to look at threads I made and cringe. > [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > Having said that, I’ve never heard of them questioning someone about their sexual orientation if they suspect them of being “closeted.” I’d be surprised if that’s a thing. I didn’t make it clear. If someone is super closeted and they want to keep it that way, in the sense that they are in an opposite sex marriage, or it will hurt their standing in their community, that night be an issue. Same as any other blackmailable material. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/was-j-edgar-hoover-gay-does-it-matter/976136)._