DEVIATION It seems that many homosexuals have lately grown fond of calling themselves deviants, for this is a term that carries no stigma. Do they realize, however, that this term lumps homosexuals together with sadists, masochists, coprophiles, necrophiles, exhibitionists, peeping Toms, etc.? Not that homosexuals should of necessity assume an attitude of superiority with respect to these other deviants, but why confuse the issue?

HOMOSEXUAL

An increasing number of authors are showing a marked tendency to apply this term. to practically all relations whatever between individuals of the same sex. No etymological objections can be made to this. However, even if we assume that all such relations differ only in degree and not in kindsomething which, incidentally, has not been proved-such a broad application of the word homosexual can easily lead to endless confusion to the profit of no one. For the sake of clarity, if for nothing else, let us reserve the term for those who wish, or would wish, sexual relations with individuals of the same sex.

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ILLNESS Many psychologists, and quite a few non-professionals, refer to homosexuality as an illness. Now, physical illness can generally be defined satisfactorily as a condition which, by its very nature, of itself causes eventual discomfort, pain,

suffering, or even death. Mental illness is more subtle, more difficult to define, for here we may also have to consider divorcement from reality in some form or other. Prolonged extreme unhappiness, unless due to some definite external cause, should rightly be considered as a result of mental illness, but it would be ridiculous to refer to the suffering of a Jew in an anti-semitic neighborhood as being due to a "mental illness," even if said neighbors do not actually take overt, violent action against him. As far as contact with reality, homosexuals as a whole are certainly only too aware of it. It is true that many homosexualsalthough not all by any means-are acutely unhappy. Are they therefore. ill? No, for their unhappiness is due, in the vast majority of cases, to definite external causes over which the homosexual has no control, to the fact that they so often find themselves rejected, must hide their most powerful emotions under an impenetrable mask, and lead lives of unspeakable loneliness.

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INVERT Here is a word that, largely through sheer ignorance, is almost invariably misused. Etymologically and pragmatically it should be reserved exclusively for the description of the individual who thinks, or feels, or wishes to be, etc., a creature of the other sex. It seems that all inverts are homosexuals, but many, many-perhaps the vast majority of homosexuals are not inverts.

AUTHORS

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