Man Shares A Century-Old Photograph That Tells A Story Of A Lesbian Relationship In His Family

We’ve come a long way in accepting differences, but even now, some people stubbornly deny the fact that same-sex relationships and marriages are normal and that everyone deserves a chance to be happy and fulfilled.

Same-sex couples remain controversial in some parts of the world even today, and we can only imagine what it was like a century ago. A man wanted to raise awareness and prove that same-sex relationships are not just a modern invention, so he shared an old family photo that tells a story of such love. The photograph shows his great-aunt Leslie with her son, and it was taken by her lover, Lucia Larranga.

Man has a century-old photograph that shows a same-sex family

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Mark Miller shared a unique photograph that has been in his family’s possession for almost a century. The photograph shows his great-aunt Leslie with her son, and it was taken by her romantic partner, Lucia Larranga. Mark stated that this image is touching proof that love transcends gender.

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Mark says that this photograph is a “talisman against the vampire of lesbian erasure.”

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“A celluloid talisman against the vampire of lesbian erasure”: that’s how Miller captioned the image. He also mentioned that he always feels better looking at the photograph because it confirms that these women had full lives, despite all difficulties and opposition.

Leslie’s family that wasn’t afraid to show off their eclectic taste

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Leslie was born in San Francisco in 1895, and she lost her mother when she was just a baby. Her name was Einnim, a backward spelling of her mother’s name, Minnie, and she was laid to rest in a pyramid tomb. The Miller family tomb can still be found in California.

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Leslie had a strong bond with her grandparents

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Leslie had a close bond with her grandparents. Miller showed some of the notes the family would exchange, which are adorably small and comparable to a coin.

In 1917, Leslie met Lucia, and they fell in love

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Leslie and Lucia met in 1917 and immediately fell in love, despite Lucia being ten years older. They wanted to have a baby, but at that time, there was no artificial way to accomplish that, so they agreed that Leslie should marry. It wasn’t an easy decision, but they decided it would be Kenneth Moore.

Leslie married a junior army officer, Kenneth Moore

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Kenneth Moore was a friend. He was an army officer preparing to join the battles in France. Kenneth and Leslie agreed to marry and then divorce when the baby was born. Leslie gave birth to her son Robert in 1918, during the Spanish flu epidemic.

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In 1920, they took a trip to Hawaii and came back with a companion, Louise Taylor

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During the family’s visit to Hawaii, they met Louise Taylor, and shortly after that, returned home with her. Miller notes that nothing inappropriate was happening, as it was likely a meeting of kindred souls. The three women returned, shared a home, and raised the boy together.

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In the 1920 census, Lucia was listed as a companion, which is a relatively vague term. Ten years later, in 1930, she was downgraded to a boarder, and ten years after that, Lucia was listed as a friend only. It’s the same status that Louise had. This undoubtedly reflects the views of the period, transforming a loving lesbian couple into female friends sharing a home. Miller also noted that the household’s income in 1940 was $150,000, indicating they were wealthy.

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The two dressed to make an impression and showcase their duality

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Leslie preferred light or pastel colors, while Lucia liked black or dark clothing. They had many photos with the same aesthetic, as if their clothes were meant to complement each other.

Their son Robert honored their legacy

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Unfortunately, Miller never got to meet his great-aunt and Lucia, but he did remember their son Robert. He had a distinct fashion style; he attended Stanford, drew cartoons for The New Yorker, and played the piano brilliantly. All these attributes prove that he was raised by a family full of love that encouraged him to think outside the box and be himself.

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Robert enjoyed playing in cafes and would give out the tips he gathered to the staff. He overcame his inability to speak after a stroke by composing fantastic letters. He never disliked people, no matter how impolite they were, always displaying his compassion and good upbringing.

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The photograph remains as proof that gender doesn’t determine what a person’s life will be like

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Miller stated that the photograph represents all the challenges Leslie and Lucia had to face, but they emerged victorious. They found a way to have a family; they were economically independent, raised a child who graduated from a respected university, and inspired generations to come.

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People were fascinated by the story and started sharing their own experiences:

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