How could I know? After all, lots of Americans seem really puzzled by European cheek kissing etc. I didn't mean to be patronising so I'm sorry, if I sounded that way.

My reaction was because I've red tons of really serious (usually feminist) history that filters everything trough contemporary culture - such as interpreting friendship from earlier centuries as being sexual. Interpreting old letters between friends as love letter etc. Of course the gay-fanfictiony-part of liking history can be fun, but in very, very small dosages...