inward sense the homosexual must choose (fully confront and assume) his function, (artist, businessman, politician.) Secondly, he must choose the sort of relationship with another human being possible and rewarding to him. But more important than either of these is the third choice:
To create his salvation the homosexual must accept his homosexuality.
I claim, in other words, that he must completely take on himself the responsibility for what he is. The role that environment and heredity play in the formation of life needs less emphasis than the necessity for the individual to confront his life, to assume his life in a naked direct sense, as the Ancient Greeks did. From the point of view of practical action and decision it is unhelpful for the homosexual to constantly refer his difficulties to a confused parental situation. Essentially whether his mother loved him too much or did not love him remains trivial and unimportant. Nothing is to be gained for the homosexual by paying obeisance to the magic powers: "social pressure" and "economic conditions." As soon as the homosexual positively accepts his homosexuality, a new ele-
ment of freedom will enter his life. And thenceforward in a cumulative way he himself-not mystic materialistic forces-will tend to determine the direction of his life.
To return to a point made at the beginning: the analytic school places homosexuality in distinction to heterosexuality, regarding the former "play." But this attitude disregards the fact that sexuality (homosexual and heterosexual) is play. More consequences of a certain sort have developed from heterosexual play (conception, the code of chivalry, legal marriage) but this really only freights it with a baggage of pseudo-importance. Who can say which is more "serious"? The individual may play for fun or for keeps in both situations. Of its own unique sort homosexuality has its deep reverence and its faith, its endurance, its profound love. Throughout history it has created subtle situations and relationships; it has been the motivation in back of such incidents as the story of the Theban Band, the Peter DoyleWhitman comradeship, the death of Achilles, the friendship of Maximin and Stefan George.
Herbert Gant
SEA URGE
-
one
This air has the sea's longing in it -
—
the sun this morning transfigures a rare mist. There is a male tang in the wind,
arousing in blood a desire that listens.
The distance, worn thin
-
O blue about islands and ships! brings a sweet sting to the lips. Out there, past the seaweed's drifting, with land a long line losing its tint, I shake out sail of my single wish.
BRYN
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