In 1935 he entered into what was then known as a lavender marriage (a marriage of convenience, often by or between gay and lesbians) to the lesbian German actress and writer, Erika Mann, in order that she could obtain British citizenship, and a UK passport, so that she would not have to return to Nazi Germany, and also allowing her to move to the United States. They never lived together, but remained close friends and technically married until Erika's death in 1969.
