inclinations, if they were to exist socially, economically, and politically. The Foundation's by-laws specifically state that homosexuals, working with the Foundation primarily as homosexuals rather than as professional and/or community advisers of some prominence, may remain anonymous. This by-law was purposely phrased to grant the fullest protections to those members of the Minority who might have the courage and the selflessness to work for the fulfillment of the Foundation Idea. The Foundation is fully aware that most of the European Groups, now enjoying some prominence and supported by people of weight in their respective communities, suffered through at least five years of enforced anonymity, press scurrility, parliamentary slander, and police persecution, before they were able to reveal themselves through their leadership. The support of the professionally prominent came only after the groups were able to appear in strength, and yet the conditions for their building were far more ideal than those currently enjoyed in the United States today. In light of the items mentioned above, and in light of the European experience just referred to, the Foundation has no intention, at the moment, of making pilloried targets out of its most devoted and self-sacrificing members. There are other members of the Foundation however who may soon feel that the Foundation principle is worthy enough of their open support. The presence of their names as community endorsers of the Foundation will mean that the Minority has presented enough evidence of good faith and social dignity to warrant community recognition. But even as the anonymous homosexual desires that the community only judge him on the basis of what he does as a social entity, rather than criticize him for what, in some people's prejudiced eyes, he is, so the Foundation desires that its friends and acquaintances judge it by what it does... rather than gossip and speculation upon the personal tastes of the persons who compose it. The Foundation will welcome the endorsements and sponsorships of the community. But the Foundation will continue to manitain its guardianship of the homosexual minority's right to the integrity of its personal pride and social dignity with, or without, such support.
And it will steadfastly refuse to horse-trade any of these basic securities of the homosexual minority to curry favor with a possible supporter regardless of the golden opportunities which seem to be offered. It would be pleasant if the social and legal recommendations of the Foundation could be found impeccable both to the tastes of the most conservative community as well as to the best interests of the homosexual minority. But since there must be a choice between the two impeccabilities, then the securities and protections of the homosexual minorities must come first.
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