Earl Peron
This item, "Gay love letter, 1923", is part of the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, and was digitally published by the University of Southern California. ONE Archives at the USC Libraries holds all rights to this letter.
In this correspondence, an unidentified man pens four pages to his “true Love,” Earl Peron. The anonymous writer is incredibly open in his adoration for his partner. He explicitly professes his affection for Peron, and relays hopes for their future together. He states that he is confident that they will last because they have the utmost confidence, love, and understanding in each other.
This is by far the most explicitly romantic letter in this archive -- and perhaps one of the best examples of a romantic letter to exist, period. Every page oozes out sweet rose-colored feelings that the writer held for his “beloved.” It’s very reminiscent of famous romantic exchanges between heterosexual couples, like the letters Alexander Hamilton wrote his wife, Eliza Hamilton or letters between Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
The letter has dramatic flair and soft promises and pet names and pining and swooning. It normalizes non-heterosexual love, and shows that it can also be intense, kind, and caring. The speaker is matter of fact, clearly expressing his love and his feelings that his partner greatly enriches his life.
Even though other letters like this may have existed, they are rare and many may not have survived. This rarity could be due to sanitization of records by either the recipient or sender or any of their loved ones, due to the danger/stigma of being so openly affectionate and queer. However, it may also be that the want/need for these types of records have not been very common, as the archival focus is not honed on LGBTQ+ expressions of love.
This image, "Peron in seaweed skirt", is part of the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives, and was digitally published by the University of Southern California. ONE Archives at the USC Libraries holds all rights to this photo.