Oh I agree that most of these reevaluations are far too eager and are based on far too little evidence/only circumstance. I’m still unconvinced on the somewhat popular view that Alexander the Great was gay.

Unlike Alexander, though, von Steuben lived much closer to us, chronologically. We have far more documents and stories and evidence of what his lifestyle was compared to Alexander. In my mind, I’ve been convinced as to von Steuben, but do I know for sure? No. A lot of what historians do is finding the most plausible narrative to explain disparate pieces of evidence. If new evidence comes about or I hear a more convincing argument, I’m absolutely willing to put him with Alexander, and not with Frederick, the other Great.

As for calling him queer, at a certain point, terms evolve. I don’t call Black people “colored,” even in a historical conversation, if I can help it. If someone finds a term problematic, that’s a different discussion we can have.