Homosexuality In Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story

When West Side Story was released in 1957 there were several different prominent problems in society; like the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, gang violence, and juvenile delinquency. However, there were other issues that were ignored, considered irrelevant, and disregarded as worthless like the discrimination against homosexuality and people who identified as transgender, transsexual or gender-nonconforming. Leonard Bernstein was the composer of West Side Story and unquestionably America's best-known classical musician. Yet his achievements were viewed with persistent skepticism by critics and scholars. They acknowledged his talents--he was equally gifted as a conductor, a pianist, and a composer of music for both the concert hall and

He faced homophobia from his mentor's, wife and peers. Additionally, according to Terry Teachout, as a composer, his achievements were viewed with persistent skepticism by critics and scholars his underlying seriousness was always in question; mainly because of his controversial sexuality. Though he was a homosexual however, he was married to Felicia Cohn Montealegre. According to Joan Peyser in BERNSTEIN: A Biography, wrote that before Bernstein was exposed to West Side Story he had a sexuality that has long since been ambiguous and undefined; a fine line between hetero- and homosexuality (23). Furthermore, mentioned Bernstein dealt with persons typical attitude towards homosexuality; the behavior was considered shameful, reprehensible (159-164). Serge Koussevitzky; developer of musical programs at Tanglewood, emphasized in his lectures to the conducting students like Bernstein the importance of feeling clean before the conductor mounts the podium. Feeling clean meant, at the very least, feeling heterosexual. Bernstein was treated like he was another, that he wasn’t human. The Leonard Bernstein Letters Bernstein's wife, actress Felicia Montealegre sent him a letter, confessing her knowledge of Bernstein's sexuality, one thing she wrote to him is “you are a homosexual and may never change” and “I happen to love you very much—this may be a disease and if it is what better cure?” (624). Bernstein’s sexuality is treated like a disease, something that could be cured. Similar to in “Gee, Officer Krupke” which mentions having a social disease especially when Riff says “no one wants a fella with a social disease”. Bernstein had a difficult marriage having to deal with pressure from society and his own wants. In 1976, the couple separated and Bernstein moved in with a young musician named Tom Cothran—Felicia was angry and supposedly let him know: “You’re going to die a bitter and lonely