A Secret Love

New to Netflix is a seemingly pure and inspiring documentary that tells the tale of true love we all need to hear. Terry Donahue, who is also a former professional baseball player, and Pat Henschel present their 65 year relationship to the world, showing us how strength in love can really combat anything. Not a believer in true love? Maybe this story will change your mind.

They met in 1947, when Terry was 22 and Pat was 18, instantly falling in love at first sight, describing it as the happiest moment of their lives. Trading poems and love letters to each other but having to rip the writer's name from the bottom of each as to not leave evidence of their relationship. They recalled how careful they had to be, going as far as to keep their relationship a secret for decades. In fact, they only disclosed their love to their family 3 years before this documentary was filmed. Previously, they would simply say they were friends or cousins and that America was just too expensive to live alone. Which, to be honest, is not a bad cover.

Why did they have to be so scared to publicise their relationship though? The documentary explains the terrible times of discrimination and hatred homosexuals faced throughout America in the 1950s especially. From regular bar raids resulting in arrests to also getting arrested for being a woman wearing masculine clothing. "Impersonating a man", if you can believe that. People lost their jobs or custody of children as their names were then printed in the newspaper along with their sexual orientation. Almost like a blacklist. Terry and Pat decided it would be easier to leave their home country of Canada and their families, thinking they were the only people like themselves, and began living a very careful, untrusting and secretive lifestyle. The risk of being deported due to their sexuality was too great a threat to the couple so keeping their love to themselves was their only option. The documentary even shows a lecture within a school hall where the people listening were told some of them will end up being lesbians and that, if they do, their lives will consequently become a "living hell". What a time.

This still did not tear the two soulmates apart and they lived an amazing life together, travelling, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Terry spoke about how they will always be alright if they're together and Pat expressed that Terry means everything to her.

Yes, that's their story but why are they an inspiration? They set the trail for our modern society. True, we do still endure hardship sometimes but it is less than it could be because of these amazingly strong women. Terry and her wife, Pat, waited more than 6 decades to marry each other, this is largely because marriage wasn't legalised for same sex couples until 2015 in America. They are part of the reason we now can. We live in a world where we can come out, somewhat, confidently to the people in our lives at young ages, for myself it was 20, for Terry on the other hand it was 86 years old. She waited 86 years to be her true self. So for her I am going to be my true self more proud than ever before. If you can also be loud and proud, go for it because people in this world sometimes can't.

They didn't let the world break their love. They show us that true love will conquer all if it is meant to be. Above all else love will always win.

For anyone doubting love or not making the most of the ones they love take Pat's wise, wise words, from a relationship that in total spread for 72 years. "When you're in a relationship, you better give it everything you've got. You're going to share this. It's going to be part of your life. It's going to be wonderful if you're all in it together."

Be proud of who you are and love who you love with everything you can.

If you haven't already, make sure to check out this movie and see it all for yourself.

---

Rainbow Talk

Documentary trailer: https://youtu.be/ghv3-lpFOcc

---