The editors were particularly gratified when the following arrived in the mail. It presents with startling clarity one of the problems facing those who wish acceptance of the homosexual by society.

THE VERY

The attitude of normal people toward homosexuals is of real value to the readers of ONE. It is this group of socalled normal men and women that creates and maintains the great block of social prejudice concerning "gay" men and women.

Before I was aware of the existence of a gay society, I had an indifferent attitude toward people in my community who were tagged with the label of "homo." Since my introduction to a society, into which I do not fit and do not understand, my attitude has changed to a great extent. I'm no psychologist and do not claim to understand the intricacies of characters and personalities so different and yet so similar to my own. I have learned, however, that those people who are homosexuals (with a few exceptions) exhibit characteristics which are desirable in any general society. Some "gay" people of both sexes I am acquainted with are of a highly intellectual nature, love the arts and assist in their promotion. They are loyal to friends, dependable and sincere. These human bits of gold cannot be ignored by normals without making hypocrites of those people professing to normality.

Those of us who profess'such normality do not generally realize the very fine line which prevents us from being homosexuals. Indeed, if it were possible to define such a demarcation, we would still continue to ignore it, so blind are mortals. There are many scattered and varied instances of personality differences which are tossed off with a shrug of the shoulders yet one particular

one

FINE

LING

difference, regarding a sexual variation from the norm, immediately condemns a fellow man.

I do not think it fair of the normal men and women to condemn homosexual activity without adequate analysis or serious thought. If we are all made from the basic mold, which is proven by physical similarity according to the scientific method, we should not consider ourselves in a position to condemn others. But, neither are we in a position to condone an activity which we do not and cannot comprehend. I believe that normal people should attempt to veer away from either condoning or condemning

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we

are not so great that our judgement should ruin lives and reputations of our fellow men.

But don't fail to consider the fact that some of the prevalent social attitudes of accepted society stem from the presence of those mere (more so than women) who flaunt themselves before the public eye as differing from others of the same sex. Difficulties which arise from such "swishing around" are almost impossible to alter or repress as far as public opinion is concerned.

I have been told that one ultimate aim of "gay" people is to be socially accepted. Some of the basic constructive steps to be taken toward this goal must be agitated from within "gay" society itself. One of these steps might include the following: an intensification of the intellectual participation in the arts and by the curbing of what is recognized by normal society as superficial indications of homosexuality from within.

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