In WWII, Two Gay Soldiers' Forbidn Romance Liv On In Their Love Letters

gay love letters ww2

In 2008, the letters between gay soldiers were disvered. Now, they are no longer hidn, and a film has been ma about them.

Contents:

IN WWII, TWO GAY SOLDIERS’ FORBIDN ROMANCE LIV ON IN THEIR LOVE LETTERS

“Beg a gay filmmaker, bed wh my love for World War II history, I knew I had to tell this story, ” Vallente, the director and -wrer of the film, said. Homosexualy was illegal the U. As a rult, rrponnce tailg gay love om that time is extremely rare.

” For Vallente, highlightg the posivy of gay love was important when producg “The Letter Men.

READ THIS HEARTBREAKG GAY WORLD WAR II SOLDIER’S LOVE LETTER

Letters between gay men are credibly rare bee they were almost always stroyed. Letters between a gay civilian and a soldier?

This is an credibly rare photograph of a gay soldier and a man Paris durg World War II. Homosexualy was illegal at that time, and beg ught the army as a gay man was so much worse. If he was found out, was likely that he would serve time prison, or even get shot by a homophobic soldier, and left for ad.

Two gay soldiers relaxg together uniform.

HUNDREDS OF LOVE LETTERS BETWEEN GAY UPLE DURG WW2 FOUND

Beg openly gay would not be crimalized until The Sexual Offens Act 1967. Even then, no one uld have gay sex until over the age of 21. Not surprisgly, there were other gay men that were drafted to the army as well.

For the vast majory of gay men wrg letters to one another durg that time, they actually did burn the letters. For years, they had dreams of leavg England and movg to the Uned Stat, where they uld live sunny California, which was known for beg more acceptg of homosexuals.

‘SLEEP WELL MY LOVE’: A BETIFUL TRAGIC GAY LOVE LETTER FROM WWII!

The Newly Disvered Love Letters Between Two Gay Soldiers In World War II Will Have You In Tears. War Time Love Letters Reveal Epic Gay Love Story Kept Secret for Des.

The Newly Disvered Love Letters Between Two Gay World War II Soldiers Tell A Heartwarmg Story Of Forbidn Love. A love letter wrten by a gay World War II soldier has been makg the rounds on the ter, and ’s givg all the feels. The text of the gay World War II soldier’s letter reads:.

What do you thk about this gay World War II letter? The heartfelt rrponnce between two gay men durg World War II has been disvered after a mm England acquired hundreds of their love letters. "Such letters are extremely rare bee they were crimatg - gay men faced years prison wh or whout hard labour, " says Higt.

AN AMAZG TROVE OF WWII GAY LOVE LETTERS WAS JT DISVERED"MY DARLG BOY, THERE IS NOTHG MORE THAN I SIRE LIFE BUT TO HAVE YOU WH ME NSTANTLY." {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY CODY GOHLFEBARY 20, 2017/12:12 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}OSWTRY TOWN MMBY CODY GOHLFEBARY 20, 2017 / 12:12 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"AN AMAZG TROVE OF WWII GAY LOVE LETTERS WAS JT DISVERED","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2017-02-20T17:12:49.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2017-02-20T17:12:49.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CODY GOHL","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A RECENTLY DISVERED LLECTN OF WAR-TIME LETTERS HAS UNVERED A GAY ROMANCE THAT WAS KEPT SECRET FOR S.OSWTRY TOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LETTERS WERE FOUND BY MEMORABILIA LLECTOR MARK HIGT WHILE HE WAS SURG THE WEB FOR PIEC OF ARY MAIL. THE NOT TELL THE STORY OF A YOUNG SOLDIER NAMED GILBERT BRADLEY AND HIS SWEETHEART, REFERRED TO SIMPLY AS "G."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN HIGT WAS FIRST READG THE MSAG, HE ASSUMED BRADLEY'S LOVER WAS A WOMAN—HOWEVER, HE SOON REALIZED THAT THE "G" STOOD FOR GORDON BOWSHER AND THAT BRADLEY WAS LOVE WH A MAN.OSWTRY TOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE 62-YEAR-OLD LLECTOR HAS AMASSED OVER 300 LETTERS WRTEN OM GORDON TO GILBERT BETWEEN 1939 AND 1944, AN AMOUNT HE SAYS IS CREDIBLY RARE GIVEN THAT HOMOSEXUALY WAS ILLEGAL GREAT BRA UNTIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE VALUE OF THE LETTERS LI THE FACT MOST LOVE LETTERS OM HOMOSEXUALS AT THE TIME WERE BURNED, BEE IF THEY WERE FOUND, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ED AS EVINCE," HE EXPLAED TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"THE STORY REALLY HAS A LIFE OF S OWN, ’S A FANTASTIC LOVE STORY TO RIVAL THE TANIC."OSWTRY TOWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FROM WHAT HIGT WAS ABLE TO GATHER, THE PAIR FIRST MET ON A HOEBOAT HOLIDAY WHEN BOWSHER WAS DATG BRADLEY'S NEPHEW. THEY QUICKLY STCK UP A RAPPORT AND FELL TO A PASSNATE ROMANCE. WHEN WAR BROKE OUT A YEAR LATER, THE TWO MATAED THEIR NNECTN THROUGH LETTERS WHILE BRADLEY WAS ON THE ONT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WEDNDAY JANUARY 24TH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY DARLG,{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}... I LIE AWAKE ALL NIGHT WAG FOR THE POSTMAN THE EARLY MORNG, AND THEN WHEN HE DO NOT BRG ANYTHG OM YOU I JT EXIST, A MASS OF NERV...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL MY LOVE FOREVER,{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHILE THE UPLE WERE QUE OPEN WH ONE ANOTHER THEIR LETTERS, THEY STILL WANTED TO KEEP THEIR RELATNSHIP PRIVATE OM HETEROSEXUAL FAY MEMBERS WHO HAD "NO NCEPTN" OF WHAT KD OF LOVE THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FEBARY 12 1940, PARK {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY OWN DARLG BOY,{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE IS NOTHG MORE THAN I SIRE LIFE BUT TO HAVE YOU WH ME NSTANTLY...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}...I N SEE OR I IMAGE I N SEE, WHAT YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER'S REACTN WOULD BE... THE RT OF THE WORLD HAVE NO NCEPTN OF WHAT OUR LOVE IS - THEY DO NOT KNOW THAT IS LOVE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEY EVEN DREAMED OF THE FUTURE, SPECIFILLY OF MOVG TO CALIFORNIA AFTER THE WAR TO BUILD A LIFE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FEBARY 1ST, 1941 K . C. GLOUCTER REGIMENT, PRRS ROAD, {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MY DARLG BOY,{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR YEARS I HAD DMMED TO ME THAT NO LOVE ULD LAST FOR LIFE...{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I WANT YOU DARLG SERLY TO LVE TO YOUR OWN MD, AND TO LOOK FOR ONCE TO THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IMAGE THE TIME WHEN THE WAR IS OVER AND WE ARE LIVG TOGETHER... WOULD NOT BE BETTER TO LIVE ON OM NOW ON THE MEMORY OF OUR LIFE TOGETHER WHEN WAS AT S MOST GOLN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOUR OWN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}UNFORTUNATELY, THEIR LOVE WOULD NOT LAST THE WAR AND THEIR RRPONNCE END 1945. BOWSHER EVENTUALLY MOVED TO CALIFORNIA TO BEE A HORSE TRAER AND BRADLEY SETTLED BRIGHTON AFTER PLETG TRAG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LETTERS WERE FIRST PUT UP FOR SALE AFTER BRADLEY'S ATH 2008 AND ARE NOW ENTIRELY OWNED BY THE OSWTRY TOWN MM, WHERE HIGT IS A {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ADDN TO DISPLAYG THE LETTERS THE MM, HIGT PLANS TO RPORATE THEM TO A BOOK ABOUT BRADLEY'S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"I’VE TRANSCRIBED EVERY LETTER AND I’VE EVEN GOT HOLD OF A PICTURE OF GILBERT," HE SAID. "I PLAN TO MAKE A BOOK ABOUT GILBERT’S LIFE, BUT TOLD THROUGH THE EY OF OTHERS. IT’S JT A BETIFUL STORY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"There was even the possibily that gay soldiers uld have been shot.

SECRET LOVE LETTERS OF TWO GAY SOLDIERS OM WWII MA TO MOVIE

It was on eBay, the ter’s treasure trove, where curator Mark Higt, of the Oswtry Town Mm, unearthed remarkable love letters between two lol gay soldiers durg the Send World War.

Gay rights activist Peter Rose said that fdg such a llectn of letters is rare bee most homosexual upl of this era monly stroyed any evince of their relatnships and sexual orientatn. Homosexual relatnships were only legalised (for men over 21) 1967 and beg outed as a gay soldier durg World War II uld have even rulted a ath sentence. Image urty of ONE Natnal Gay & Lbian Archiv at USC Librari.

A recently disvered llectn of war-time letters has unvered a gay romance that was kept secret for letters were found by memorabilia llector Mark Higt while he was surg the web for piec of ary mail.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY LOVE LETTERS WW2

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class="article-le-byle" data-activy-map="le-byle-article-top">By <span class="byle-name"><a href=">Alex Tabet</a></span> and <span class="byle-name">Aaron Gilchrist</span></div></sectn><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><p class="">“Wouldn’t be wonrful if all our letters uld be published the future a more enlightened time,” Gordon Bowsher wrote durg the harrowg days of World War II. “Then all the world uld see how love we are.” </p><p class="">Many are now gettg the opportuny to wns their credible love story, more than 80 years after Bowsher wrote to Gilbert Bradley, the man he loved. </p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p class="">The two were separated 1939, when Bradley was drafted to the Brish Army.</p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_small__5hUB_ styl_portra__NRWbO"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1240px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source media="(m-width: 758px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Gilbert Bradley." height="1500" width="999"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Gilbert Bradley.</span><span class="ptn__source">Courty Andrew Vallente</span></figptn></figure><p class="">Throughout World War II, they wrote each other love letters, which have now been ptured Andrew Vallente’s short film “The Letter Men,” starrg Garrett Clayton as Bradley and Matthew Postlethwae as Bowsher. </p><p class="">The film premiered June 10 at Tribe Film Ftival and is showg throughout the week.</p><p class="">Vallente had the ia for his film after learng of the uple's letters 2017. </p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">“Beg a gay filmmaker, bed wh my love for World War II history, I knew I had to tell this story,” Vallente, the director and -wrer of the film, said. </p><p class="">Bradley and Bowsher first met Devon, southwt England, 1938. In love but separated by the war, the two men began wrg each other letters — a potentially dangero act durg that era. Homosexualy was illegal the U.K. until 1967. </p><p class="">“Most queer people burned their letters durg that time bee they were terrified of beg disvered,” Vallente said. </p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="From left, Matthew Postlethwae, Andrew Vallente, and Garrett Clayton." height="1668" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">From left, Matthew Postlethwae, Andrew Vallente, and Garrett Clayton.</span><span class="ptn__source">Courty Andrew Vallente</span></figptn></figure><p class="">“Incency,” the ary term for sexual activy between men, uld rult a lengthy prison sentence for Brish soldiers. As a rult, rrponnce tailg gay love om that time is extremely rare. </p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">Vallente said that, at some pot, Bradley told Bowsher he fell love wh another man Stland, and their letters beme more iendly until they drifted apart and stopped wrg to each other 1945. Bradley kept his letters until his ath 2008. </p><p class="">Vallente -wrote the script wh his hband, Danny Vallente. The majory of the script is posed of the exact words om Bradley and Bowsher’s letters.  </p><p class="">Vallente ma sure that most of the st and crew volved the productn of the film intified as LGBTQ.  </p><figure class="styl_leImage__yAWZ0 styl_medium__OMa6x"><picture class="styl_image__1qciH"><source media="(m-width: 1000px)" srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="Garrett Clayton and Matthew Postlethwae as Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher." height="1667" width="2500"/></picture><figptn class="ptn styl_ptn__Pe5JC"><span class="ptn__ntaer" data-ttid="ptn__ntaer">Garrett Clayton and Matthew Postlethwae as Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher.</span><span class="ptn__source">Courty Andrew Vallente</span></figptn></figure><p class="">“I thk ’s important that we tell our own stori,” he said. “That don’t always necsarily need to happen, but this se I’m happy that was.” </p><div class="ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer boxleAd dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxle" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[]],[[758,1],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[728,90],[360,360]]],[[0,0],[[300,250],[700,50],[5,5],[360,360]]]]" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-offset-viewport="100" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div><p class="">For Vallente, highlightg the posivy of gay love was important when producg “The Letter Men.” </p><div class="remend-tersectn-ref" data-activy-map="remend-article-body-remend"></div><p class="">“In a lot of LGBTQ+ cema, we tell our worst stori, some of the worst thgs that have happened to om over the years,” he said. “In ‘The Letter Men,’ we didn’t explore hate crim, we didn’t explore people beg shunned for beg love. We really jt told the story of the two men love.” </p><p class="endmark"><strong><em>Follow </em></strong><a href=" target="_blank"><strong><em>NBC Out</em></strong></a><strong><em> on </em></strong><a href=" target="_blank"><strong><em>Twter</em></strong></a><strong><em>, </em></strong><a href=" target="_blank"><strong><em>Facebook</em></strong></a><strong><em> & </em></strong><a href=" target="_blank"><strong><em>Instagram</em></strong></a></p></div><div class="article-body__ntent article-body-font--loadg"><div class="expand-byle-ntributors articleByleContaer"><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><div class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--has-image expand-byle__thumbnail"><a href="><picture><source srcSet=" 2x, 1x"/><img loadg="lazy" src=" alt="" height="48" width="48"/></picture></a></div><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name"><a href=">Alex Tabet</a></span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"><a href="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="byle-social--lk"><span class="in in-email"></span></a></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Alex Tabet is a 2024 NBC News mpaign embed.</p></div></div><div class="expand-byle article-expand-byle" data-activy-map="expand-byle-article-bottom"><span class="byle-thumbnail byle-thumbnail--no-image expand-byle__thumbnail"></span><span class="byle-name expand-byle__name">Aaron Gilchrist</span><span class="byle-social expand-byle__social"></span><div class="expand-byle__b-wrapper"><p class="byle-b expand-byle__b">Aaron Gilchrist is an anchor for NBC News.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div class="article-body--right-rail-ntaer"><div class="article-body__right-rail layout-grid-em grid-l-4_5-l grid-l-3_5-xl grid-l-ph-half-xl"><div class="ad article-body__right-rail--ad ad--text-alignment ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="boxrail" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[300,250],[360,360]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="10" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="body-bottom-remend"><div class="ad ad--midrponsive ad-ntaer dn-prt" data-ttid="ad__ntaer"><div data-mps="te" data-slot="midrponsive" data-siz="[[[1000,1],[[700,1],[5,5]]],[[758,1],[]],[[0,0],[]]]" data-offset="300" data-reh-terval="0" data-renr-on-view="te" data-targetg="{}" data-active-tab="te" data-ttid="ad__ntaer__ner"></div></div></div></div></div></article></div></div><div id="hfs-footer" class="dn-prt" data-activy-map="hfs-footer"><footer class="hfsf" ><div class="ner"><div class="logo"><a href="><svg class="peack" viewBox="578 62 67 39" xmlns=" fill="currentColor"><g fill-le="evenodd"><path d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M579.074 90.58c1.717-4.494 6.472-6.08 10.697-3.37l18.29 12.754h-22.18c-4.62 0-8.252-4.23-6.8-9.385"></path><path class="feather" d="M597.563 75.863l9.442 21.613-19.478-13.35c-4.887-3.24-3.896-8.79-1.19-11.237 3.83-3.24 9.245-2.12 11.226 2.97"></path><path class="feather" d="M610.57 70.93l-3.433 24.19-9.772-23c-2.113-5.75 2.64-9.516 5.81-9.583 3.632-.396 8.188 2.38 7.396 8.394"></path><path class="feather" d="M625.494 72.103l-9.707 23.067-3.102-20.82c-.265-3.17 1.716-3.237 2.443-3.832-.133-.463-1.124-.463-1.124-.463h-1.848c-.198-5.42 4.028-7.8 7.462-7.535 3.697.132 7.856 4.428 5.876 9.583"></path><path class="feather" d="M635.338 84.167L615.86 97.584l9.177-21.348c2.775-6.742 9.245-5.42 11.556-2.842 2.51 2.51 3.235 7.6-1.255 10.773"></path><path class="feather" d="M637.448 99.9h-22.515l18.29-12.756c4.49-2.975 9.244-.266 10.498 3.635 1.327 4.36-1.65 9.12-6.27 9.12"></path></g></svg></a></div><nav class="lks"><ul class="lks__wrap" data-l-2="14" data-l-3=15><li><a href=" target="_self">About</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Contact</a></li><li><a href=">Help</a></li><li><a href=">Careers</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ad Choic</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Do Not Sell My Personal Informatn</a></li><li><a href=" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CA Notice</a></li><li><a href=">Terms of Service (Updated JULY 7, 2023)</a></li><li><a href=">NBC News Semap</a></li><li><a href=">Advertise</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Shoppg</a></li><li><a href=" target="_self">Select Personal Fance</a></li></ul></nav><div class="py"><p>© 2023 NBC UNIVERSAL</p><div class="brands"><a href="><svg viewBox="0 0 120 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-labelledby="nbc_news_logo"><tle class="nbc_news_logo">NBC News Logo .

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