In a time where being anything but heterosexual would tank your career, Hudson kept his homosexuality a closely guarded secret. Following strict rules from his agent, Hudson and his lover at the time, Lee Garlington, were strongly urged to not be photographed together. In fact, the only photo taken of the two of them together in the States was of them in a bar in New Orleans, according to Garlington (via Fox News).
According to Garlington, Taylor knew of his relationship with Hudson. It was Taylor who suggested that the two of them sneak away to the then-quiet beach town of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Without any paparazzi or fans, the two of them would be able to live their lives like a normal couple while visiting.
Taylor must have known that Hudson being public about his relationship with Garlington would have its risks, a fact not lost on one of Hudson’s modern biographers. “Sadly, at the height of his fame, being authentically who he was would have resulted in a terminated contact and a shattered career,” said Mark Griffin, who authored the Hudson biography “All That Heaven Allows.”
