A Secret Love on Netflix

We watched the last week and it is excellent! We were both very touched and moved by this story. When I first came out in 1970 we were reaching the end of this era. As a young gay man I had to be very careful who I trusted with my true self. This was very hard and gave one a sense being less than. In 1970 there were still so very many gay couples like these wonderful women. Forced to hide their true identities due to societal and family pressure.

Young people should especially view this documentary so they can get a sense of where their gay elders, like myself came from. It shows the day to day, decade by decade reality of gay life for most gay and lesbian Americans during the 40’s thru the 70’s and beyond for the oldest of this group.

It was a long, hard fight to some semblance of equality. And this equality that many now take for granted is hanging in a precarious balance right here and now. Four more years of what we’ve been living with for the last 3 plus years will most probably put us all back to square one.

Thanks so much Phil for posting this!

Eddie

This post was last edited 05/16/2020 at 13:39


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 1072813 5/16/2020 at 12:06 (1,438 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)
Checkrate/Likes 4 This is one of the most touching documentaries I've ever seen, if you have Netflix it is worth a look. The director spends 7 years capturing a portion of these women's lives. The wealth of historical family photos and movies add lots of depth to the story.

Post# 1072814 , Reply# 1 5/16/2020 at 12:38 (1,438 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)
Checkrate/Likes 1 We watched the last week and it is excellent! We were both very touched and moved by this story. When I first came out in 1970 we were reaching the end of this era. As a young gay man I had to be very careful who I trusted with my true self. This was very hard and gave one a sense being less than. In 1970 there were still so very many gay couples like these wonderful women. Forced to hide their true identities due to societal and family pressure. Young people should especially view this documentary so they can get a sense of where their gay elders, like myself came from. It shows the day to day, decade by decade reality of gay life for most gay and lesbian Americans during the 40’s thru the 70’s and beyond for the oldest of this group. It was a long, hard fight to some semblance of equality. And this equality that many now take for granted is hanging in a precarious balance right here and now. Four more years of what we’ve been living with for the last 3 plus years will most probably put us all back to square one. Thanks so much Phil for posting this! Eddie This post was last edited 05/16/2020 at 13:39

Post# 1072877 , Reply# 2 5/16/2020 at 19:54 (1,438 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)
Checkrate/Likes 3 One of the most wonderful blessings bestowed upon me was when Betty Ann and Meg bought the house next door to us. Betty Ann was like Auntie Mame and Miss Meg was like Vera Charles, but she was the kindest friend to all of us, even my little 6 year old sister. We would go over there in the afternoon and watch Perry Mason with her. I would drive her to Happy Herman's. I never had to come out because my picture was next to "homosexual" in the dictionary. When The Boys in the Band stage play come to Atlanta and briefly, before the bluenoses made a fuss, played at the Memorial Arts Center, they bought a ticket for me to go with them. We had dinner at the House of Eng at 10th & Peachtree Sts. I remember them saying we had to cook up a story for my parents for where we were going. Betty Ann suggested we tell them we went to see Patton, but I said that would not work because daddy knew too much about all of that. They were angels in disguise sent to help me and provide fun for me and my siblings. My family had many friends in the medical and education professions and through Betty Ann, we had LGBT members of the medical and other professions and they were great role models as opposed to the people my age who were students and others who had not yet arrived at professional status. They had avocado Frigidaire appliances: Compact 30 range & Deluxe dishwasher which came with the house and a bottom freezer refrigerator and a deluxe Washer and Dryer, mostly only used by the cleaning lady and once by me for some reason. Meg was amazed that I knew how to use the washer and dryer since she didn't and, on the day after Thanksgiving, knew how to load even the roaster in the dishwasher.

Post# 1072888 , Reply# 3 5/16/2020 at 21:17 (1,437 days old) by pulltostart (Mobile, AL)
Checkrate/Likes 1 The film looks very interesting. I look forward to when I can view it. Just watching the trailer stirred emotions within me - I just love seeing people who are "different" acting so confidently and being so secure and honest. Thanks for the link! And Tom, thank you for sharing the stories of your neighbors. I love reading stories and hearing about places in and around Atlanta, especially the ones that pre-date my living there. lawrence