Examine the following documents and answer the questions below.
Document J: Portraits of Lili Ilse Elvenes
Lili Ilse Elvenes was the first person to undergo sex reassignment surgeries in 1930. She was born Einar Magnus Andreas Wegener and lived as a successful Dutch painter until her transition and eventual death in 1931. She died from infection after one of her surgeries.
Lili Elbe Self Portrait c. 1920
N. Hoyer, ed., Man into Woman. An Authentic Record of a Change of Sex. The true story of the miraculous transformation of the Danish painter Einar Wegener (Andreas Sparre). London: Jarrolds, 1933. Photograph: Lili, Paris, 1926, opp. p. 40.
Portrait of Lili Elbe. Watercolour by Gerda Wegener, c. 1928
Questions:
- Which of the portraits best represents Lili? Why?
- After completing her surgeries, the Danish government issued Lili a new passport and dissolved her wedding. Why do you think the Danish government forced Lili and her wife to divorce?
Document K: Love letters between Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher
During World War II, homosexuality was illegal in Great Britain. Openly gay soldiers could be shot; however, the risk of public shame and execution did not stop many gay couples from finding love in the trenches. Gilbert Bradley and Gordon Bowsher are two such men who wrote to one another throughout the conflict. One, poignant, letter contains the phrase: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all our letters could be published in the future in a more enlightened time. Then all the world could see how in love we are.”
Wednesday January 24th 1939
My darling,
… I lie awake all night waiting for the postman in the early morning, and then when he does not bring anything from you I just exist, a mass of nerves…
All my love forever,
G.
February 12 1940, Park Grange
My own darling boy,
There is nothing more than I desire in life but to have you with me constantly…
…I can see or I imagine I can see, what your mother and father’s reaction would be… the rest of the world have no conception of what our love is – they do not know that it is love…
G.
February 1st, 1941 K . C. Gloucester Regiment, Priors Road, Cheltenham
My darling boy,
For years I had it drummed into me that no love could last for life…
I want you darling seriously to delve into your own mind, and to look for once into the future.
Imagine the time when the war is over and we are living together… would it not be better to live on from now on the memory of our life together when it was at its most golden pitch.
Your own G.
Questions:
- Why do you think Gordon signed the letters with only his first initial “G.”
- What might have happened to Gilbert if people knew he was gay?
- What did Gilbert and Gordon hope would happen in the future?