III. WHAT IS PRINTABLE IN ONE MAGAZINE?

Whether or not we like or agree with the laws of this world, we must live with them. This is an admonition attorneys frequently have to give clients. Therefore, what do these laws mean, in terms of what ONE can or cannot print?

First, while I do not want to alarm ONE'S readers, I must in frankness say there is one extreme school of legal thought which would say that ONE, merely by its existence, is illegal. That line of reasoning would run as follows: Homosexual acts are made crimes in every State of the Union. ONE is published specifically for homosexuals. Therefore, ONE is a magazine for criminals, their edification and guidance. It is, therefore, illegal.

This, however, is. too extreme a view for 1954. There is no indication from any quarter that such a view will ever be taken, or could be successfully maintained in a court. It is likelier that a more moderate, sensible position will in fact prevail. This moderate view is in fact the one taken. last year by the Solicitor-General.

That view is this: that a discussion of the social, economic, personal and legal problems of homosexuals, for the purposes of better understanding of and by society, is permissible; but appeals to the lusts or salacity or sexual appetites of ONE'S readers are not permissible. ONE, in other words, can appeal to the heads, but not the sexual desires, of its readers.

This view is in accord with that taken by the Church of England recently, when it announced that in its opinion, the condition of homosexuality itself was "morally neutral"; homosexual acts, however, are sinful.

Let us apply these principles to the actual day-to-day problems of the magazine, in dealing with contributions. The following rules can be set forth. ONE cannot print the following: (1) Lonely hearts ads, seeking pen pals or meetings.

(2) "Cheesecake" art or photos. To readers who ask, "But how about all the girlie magazines?" I can only reply that in our society, visual stimulation of man by woman is tolerated to a far greater extent than attempted visual stimulation of man by man, for what is in law a criminal purpose.

(3) Descriptions of sexual acts, or the preliminaries thereto. Again here, what is permissible in heterosexual literature is not permissible in ONE's context.

(4) Descriptions of experiences which become too explicit. 1.e., permissible: "John was my friend for a year." Not permissible: "That night we made mad love."

(5) Decriptions of homosexuality as a practice which the author encourages in others, or waxes too enthusiastic about.

(6) Fiction with too much physical contact between the characters. I.e., characters cannot rub knees, feel thighs, hold hands, soap backs, or undress before one another. (All examples taken from recent contributions).

This is only a partial list; the only real standards are the taste, discretion, and judgment of the individual editors.

Note also that these rules are relaxed somewhat in work dealing with homosexuality among women. Hence, the greater freedom of ONE'S February All-Woman Issue. This is merely a reflection of society's attitudes in general, based on no particular logic.

IV. CONCLUSION.

These rules may outrage some readers who desire far greater militance and frankness. They are, however, the facts of legal life. The rules here set forth have proved valid in the experience of other publishers, who have found the Postal Department to be "trigger-happy" in the area of homosexual literature. One well-known publisher of fiction has announced he will not handle work of this character any longer, the risks of publication having become too great.

ONE, also, must operate under restrictions, some of which chafe. Every word which goes into the magazine must be read by ONE'S attorney at least twice, once in its raw, manuscript form, and again in finished, printed paste-up. ONE'S revenues are sometimes limited by having to refuse to take certain advertising, which in the context in which ONE operates would prove dangerous.

The path is difficult and requires great judgment and responsibility. But if ONE, and the writers and viewpoints it represents, can become an accepted institution in American literary life (and this seems to be happening), it will have served a great and important purpose, both for its readers and for the cause of freedom of speech; for in its own way, ONE is helping to broaden the areas of free expression in this country.

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