LETTERS

The views expressed here are those of the writers. ONE's readers cover a wide range of geographical, economic, age, and educational status. This department aims to express this diversity.

Gentlemen:

Your January issue-undoubtedly the best so far-arrived a few hours ago, was promptly devoured, and now impels me into a task that I cordially detestwriting. Actually, I have been thinking. of writing you for several months; the straw that broke the camel's back was Norman Mailer's "The Homosexual Villain."

But let us begin farther back. Judging from the letters you publish, from your editorial comments, and from my own limited experience, I would say that the greatest single fundamental problem faced by the homosexual is his (or her) acceptance, or rather lack of acceptance, by society as a whole and by the individuals that make up society. I would say further that your primary object as editors, your burning passion, is to live to see the day when homosexuals are taken as a matter of course and liked or disliked, praised or vilified, rewarded or punished for the same reasons exactly that heterosexuals are-and for none other.

Now, there is a distinction between society and the individual, but if any change is to occur in the former, it must first take place in the latter. Mr. Mailer tells us in detail how this change may be brought about-not the only way, perhaps, but a method that worked in his case and that would surely work in many others. The details are given in his article and follow this sequence: the friendly neighbor that was a homosexual, then seeing a copy of ONE, and, finally, reading Cory's "The Homosexual in America."

It would be interesting to know more about this friendly neighbor. Did he subtly engineer it all? Or did it happen without his purposeful intervention? But no matter to this friendly neighbor all homosexuals owe a debt of gratitude, for, consciously or not, he was instru-

mental in bringing understanding of and sympathy for all homosexuals to one who, as a prominent writer, has an immeasurable influence on the public at large.

Next in line is ONE-your militancy and honesty, your zeal and sacrifices are striking a responsive chord here and there. Apparently, not many homosexuals share your flaming spirit but it is spreading little by little. The day may yet come when all homosexuals in this country will know of you, and ONE will sell hundreds of thousands or even millions where it now sells only thousands. In the meantime, it is up to us who know you to spread the word around, to send copies, anonymously if need be, to friends, relatives, or even perfect strangers on occasion.

And now for a couple of other comments. I have nothing but the warmest admiration for your courage and accomplishments so far except for the quarrel, now fortunately buried, with the Mattachine Society. The fiction you have published may not have been masterpieces every time, but you are providing the facilities for the publication of short stories that is a tremendous lot and will encourage writers. Your controversial ads are obviously designed to appeal to a certain minority group among the homosexuals, a group that, rightly or wrongly, is resented by other homosexuals as well as by heterosexuals. However, I shall be glad to move over a bit and let them have their rhinestonestudded underwear (must be uncomfortable as hell!) and I am delighted that you should get a few desperately-needed bucks for it.

This letter is becoming endless, so let's cut it off right here-abruptly, like this:

NEW YORK CITY m Editor's Note: DON'T STOP NOW! Thanks for all your kind words and do let us hear from you again!

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