Pat Patterson Faced Deportation Over Suspicions of Homosexuality In The 1960s

An in-depth report has revealed that Pat Patterson was investigated numerous times by the United States Justice Department’s Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in the 1960s, in an attempt to return him to his native Canada over suspicions that he was gay.

Patterson was born in Montreal in 1941 and immigrated to the United States in the 1960s to pursue a career in wrestling. Wrestling for the Oregon-based Pacific Northwest Wrestling promotion, Patterson developed the 'Pretty Boy' character, an effeminate wrestler who wore lipstick, a beret and carried a cigarette holder.

According to the detail report by David Bixenspan in his new feature for MEL Magazine, Patterson's character caught the attention of the INS.

Bixenspan writes: "The documents in Patterson’s INS file aren’t 100 percent clear on the impetus for the investigation into his personal life. But an April 14, 1965 summary of witness interviews points to what appear to be the likely flash points —  one of which was an investigation of the local gay community by the Portland Police Department’s morals squad."

During a deportation hearing with the INS, Patterson was then asked in detail about the gimmick he chose and his sexuality. 

Memos from those hearings read: "I asked [Patterson] on the record why he had dyed his hair blond and why he used some of the rather effeminate mannerisms which he affected. His response was that when he was starting out as a wrestler the promoters told him that he was colorless; that besides being a good wrestler he had to be different and that in his case they suggested the blond hair, cigarette holder and other effeminate mannerisms, saying that while the people would not like it, it would draw them to the bouts.

"He was asked point-blank if he was a homosexual and denied it. He was also asked if he molested little boys and denied that. He volunteered the information that because he was a ‘good’ wrestler, other people were jealous and were trying to get him into trouble. As I had no evidence with which to confront him, I let the matter drop there."

Deportation attempts, including a planned trick to get Patterson to leave the United States and then deny him re-entry, appeared to end in either late 1966 or early 1967, according to Bixenspan's report.

Patterson received his U.S. citizenship in 2002 and passed away at the age of 79 in December 2020.

David Bixenspan's full feature regarding Pat Patterson can be viewed here.