Partner James Baldwin, Wife Diana Sands

Lucien Jean Happersberger (30 September 1932 - 21 August 2010) was a Swiss artist and lover to James A. Baldwin.

James Arthur Baldwin was an American novelist, writer, playwright, poet, essayist and civil rights activist. In 1949, Baldwin fell in love with Lucien Happersberger, age 17, eight years younger than Baldwin. The two became very close, until Happersberger's marriage three years later, an event that left Baldwin devastated, but they remained close friend until 1987, the year Baldwin died.

In 1964 Happersberger married American actress Diana Sands. They divorced in 1970.

Happersberger died in 2010.

References:

Days of Love: Celebrating LGBT History One Story at a Time Paperback – January 29, 2026 by Elisa Rolle

Outlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples Paperback – Illustrated, May 7, 2013 by Rodger Streitmatter

Homintern: How Gay Culture Liberated the Modern World Paperback – November 21, 2017 by Gregory Woods

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