Zürcher Studierendenzeitung

Lieber Oscar,

Ich bin schwul und weiss nicht, wie ich damit umgehen soll.

Kannst du mir helfen?

Robert Günther

Dear Robert.

It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is fatal. Robbie, dear, you have beauty, you have breeding and, most glorious of all, you have youth. Whatever our natures are, we have to fulfil them. In my century, such an affection between two men was so misunderstood that it may have been described as «the love that dare not speak its name». But this noblest form of affection is as pure as it is perfect. Allowedly, life is challenging, and so are the conventions of the society. However, you, dear boy, are blessed with living in an era of acceptance. Thus, stop making your life a torment. Allow yourself to be loved by an elder man. Aspire towards the intellect in one of your professors. He will worship you for your youth and all the joy, hope and glamour of life that lies before you.

Should you still feel inhibited, write down your deepest thoughts but never forget to remain ambiguous in your expressions. One can survive everything except death, and live down everything except a good reputation. Pleasure, my boy, is the only thing one should live for. Go outside, wander about in the gardens, attend parties, have dinner in fancy restaurants. Where your life leads you, you must go.

But most importantly, «Know thyself» and you will find your sweet rose, your delicate flower. Once you have been introduced to a lovely boy, my dearest Robbie, you shall give your lily of lilies whatever he wants. Lavish your beloved with superb presents and he will blossom. And never forget being on familiar terms with your bloom’s parents. In this regard, one should not tempt fate. Always talk wonderfully and show humour. Robert, dear, love your boy as devotedly, unselfishly and purely as you can. But should he be envious, break with him. One last thing, Robbie dear boy, whatever you shall do in your life, don’t let anyone, anything, ever change you.

Oscar Wilde, *16. Oktober 1854 in Dublin, †30. November 1900 in Paris. Der irische Schriftsteller und Familienvater ging offen mit seiner Homosexualität um. Vom Vater seines langjährigen Liebhabers Alfred Douglas angeklagt, wurde Wilde wegen Unzucht zu zwei Jahren Zuchthaus mit schwerer körperlicher Zwangsarbeit verurteilt.