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When we think of the Golden Age of Piracy, our minds usually drift to rugged men with eye patches, peg legs, and a suspicious amount of rum. But if you look a little closer at the salt-stained pages of history, you’ll find that the high seas weren't just a "boys' club." In fact, the ocean has long been a sanctuary for those who didn't: or couldn't: fit into the rigid gender boxes of life on land.
At Read with Pride, we’re obsessed with uncovering the hidden queer narratives of the past. Today, we’re setting sail into the 1700s to talk about icons like Mary Read and Anne Bonny. These weren't just "women in disguise"; they were pioneers of gender fluidity who navigated a world of "Articles of Agreement" and maritime law while living life on their own terms. If you love a good gay adventure romance or MM historical romance, these real-life stories are the ultimate inspiration.
The Law of the Sea vs. The Reality of the Heart
Back in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, pirate ships were governed by strict codes. These "Articles" often explicitly banned women from being on board. Why? A mix of old-school superstition (the "women are bad luck" trope) and the very practical fear that the crew would tear each other apart fighting over a female presence. In some cases, the penalty for bringing a woman aboard was death.
Yet, despite these deadly stakes, people assigned female at birth were consistently found among pirate crews. For many, it was a survival strategy. For others, it was an escape from the stifling expectations of 18th-century womanhood. They traded corsets for slops and needles for cutlasses, adopting "masculine" dress, names, and behaviors. This wasn't just a costume; for many, it was a complete identity shift that allowed them to access the profit-sharing systems and democratic freedoms that only piracy offered.
Anne Bonny and Mary Read: The Power Duo of the Caribbean
You can’t talk about queer history at sea without mentioning Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Their story reads like the ultimate gay historical romance novel, filled with secret identities, fierce battles, and a bond that defied the law.
Mary Read had been living as a man for years before she ever stepped onto a pirate ship. She had served in the infantry and the cavalry in Flanders, perfectly maintaining her identity as a male soldier. After her husband died, she eventually found herself on a ship bound for the West Indies, which was captured by pirates. She joined the crew, still presenting as a man.
Enter Anne Bonny. Anne was already a bit of a rebel, having abandoned a boring marriage to run off with the pirate captain Calico Jack Rackham. On Rackham’s ship, Anne also dressed as a man, though legend suggests Rackham knew her true identity.
The "meet-cute" between Mary and Anne is the stuff of legend. As the story goes, Anne (still presenting as a woman or a very feminine man, depending on which source you believe) became attracted to Mary, thinking she was a handsome young sailor. When Mary revealed the truth of her biological sex to Anne to avoid a complicated romantic entanglement, the two became inseparable. Whether they were lovers, best friends, or kindred spirits who shared a unique understanding of gender performance, their bond was the strongest on the ship.
More Than Just a Disguise
While some historians argue that Mary and Anne were simply "hiding" to survive, modern queer theory invites us to look deeper. In an era where gender was strictly binary and legally enforced, these pirates spent the majority of their lives performing masculinity. They "cursed and swore better than the rest of them," fought with a ferocity that terrified their enemies, and were respected by their male peers until the moment they were caught.
When we read LGBTQ+ fiction today, we often look for characters who challenge the status quo. Mary Read and Anne Bonny were doing exactly that in 1720. They proved that gender is often a performance: one they mastered to claim a life of freedom. This intersection of identity and adventure is why gay adventure romance remains one of the most popular genres on Readwithpride.com.
The Final Stand: Courage When the Men Fled
The true test of their character came in October 1720. When their ship was attacked by a government-commissioned "pirate hunter," Captain Jonathan Barnet, the male crew members were: to put it bluntly: too drunk and scared to fight. Most of them hid in the hold.
Anne and Mary, however, stayed on deck. They fought back against the boarders with everything they had. Mary was reportedly so disgusted by the cowardice of the men that she fired her pistol down into the hold, shouting at them to come up and fight like men.
When they were eventually captured and brought to trial in Jamaica, their "disguise" was finally fully stripped away. Yet, even in the face of the gallows, they remained defiant. Anne’s final words to Calico Jack before he was hanged were famously biting: "If you had fought like a man, you needn't be hang'd like a dog."
Beyond the Famous Duo: A Legacy of Resistance
While Anne and Mary are the most famous, they weren't the only ones. We have records of others, like Neel Cuyper, whose gender was discovered aboard Captain Ned Low’s vessel. Unlike the dramatic trials of Bonny and Read, Cuyper was simply cast ashore near Tortuga: a testament to the fact that while the "rules" were strict, the reality of life at sea was often more about utility than morality.
These stories remind us that the struggle for self-expression isn't a modern invention. We see these same themes of "passing," found family, and defying society in the new gay releases of 2026. Writers like Dick Ferguson and many others featured on our author sitemap continue to draw from this rich well of history to create compelling MM romance books.
Why These Stories Matter in 2026
At Read with Pride, we believe that knowing our history empowers our future. The Golden Age of Piracy shows us a world where the boundaries of gender were surprisingly porous for those brave enough to cross them. Whether you're looking for steamy MM romance set on the high seas or a deep dive into gay literature that explores the nuances of identity, the legacy of these pirates is everywhere.
If you're an author looking to share your own queer historical narrative, we’re here to help you keep the wind in your sails. Check out our post on The Royalties Revolution to see how we’re changing the publishing game for LGBTQ+ creators. We’re all about Publishing with Pride, ensuring our stories stay in our hands.
The ocean has always been a place of transformation. Just as the pirates of old sought a life beyond the reach of kings and restrictive laws, we continue to seek out stories that celebrate the full spectrum of the human experience.
Join the Crew
Are you a fan of gay historical romance? Do you have a favorite pirate-themed MM romance recommendation? We want to hear from you! The queer community has always been a "found family," much like the crews of the 1700s.
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