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talked about. Some authorities speak glibly of "cures," for exclusive homosexuals, recorded cures are very rare. December, 1955, a British Medical Association Committee set to study the subject in consideration of proposed changes in the law, stated, "The medical profession has no panacea to offer for the cure of homosexuality.... it cannot alter his sexual orientation...." Of course, some border-line homosexuals can be pushed over by psychiatric treatment of one sort or another into pursuing more acceptable heterosexual practices, but the actual approach of most therapists, even in state institutions is merely to "adjust" the homosexual so as to lessen his chance of "getting caught."

On this grounds we justify our appeal to the right to "pursuit of happiness." So long as society can offer no better alternative, the homosexual can only find his happiness as a homosexual, inside or outside the law. Present restrictions unnecessarily condemn a large class to a life of inescapable falsehood, frustration and criminality.

Fear and insecurity are the chief conditions of homosexual life in America. Finding himself different from most men, he nonetheless cannot change his impulses at will. He hears the glib talk of cure, and often tries to get himself cured, but almost always finds that months or years of "treatment" do nothing to alter his basic drives. His problem becomes one of satisfying or not satisfying his desires. Donning a social mask so neighbors and business associates will not recognize him for what he is, and hoping he can keep safe from police and blackmailers. A few, in limited social environs, are able to come out with the the secret, to be themselves, but this is rare. For many, law and social order come most unnecessarily to appear as enemies. So they return in kind the hate society hands them.

Other considerations are raised hysterically. In the public mind, homosexuality is identified with all manner of perversions and sex crimes, particularly with rapists and child molesters. But any examination of statistics would show that corruption of minors and crimes of violence are about equally distributed among heterosexuals and homosexuals, and in either group, represent a minority. In both groups, it also appears that these crimes, where not connected with subnormal intelligence, tend to stem from frustration of the sexual drives. As a consequence, one might predict that lessening the tension under which homosexuals live would lessen the number of homosexuals inclined to violence or molesting. It would also reduce the heavy incidence of blackmail and resultant violence.

A few years ago, an appeal for homosexual rights would have been laughable. People just didn't talk about such ideas. No homosexual would have dared so identify himself publicly. In the last decade that condition has altered. Books on the subject have had some circulation. National magazines have nibbled daintily, though with some distaste, at the subject. A few public figures have timidly suggested that present laws leave much to be desired. A few authorities have questioned the generally accepted definitions of "normality" and the

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