Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star

A biography of William Haines, one of the biggest box office stars of the late silent era who refused to enter a lavender marriage and was consequently forced out of Hollywood.

Unlike his contemporaries who agreed to studio-arranged marriages, Haines chose to live openly with his partner Jimmie Shields, becoming an early example of someone who rejected the lavender marriage compromise.

The book provides crucial context for understanding why lavender marriages were so common—they were often presented as the only alternative to career destruction and public disgrace.