The ancient Greeks wrote on shells the names of citizens to be banished from all social fellowship. OSTRIKON is the Greek word for a shell; hence our word ostracize. Joe, the vote is in. You may be good or evil, wise or foolish, talented or untalented, worthy or unworthy; all that doesn't matter. You are ostracized, if you accept homosexuality. The vote was in before you were born.

"But I can go to New York, to Chicago, to Los Angeles.

When you see that doctor, Joe, ask him how many happy homosexuals he has known --wherever they came from, wherever they went. Get the facts. But can't society's attitude be changed? Yes. When men no longer crave to feel superior one to the other, when prejudice and hate and guilt and ignorance no longer plague mankind, when "a mystic bond of brotherhood makes all men one."

You should live so long?

Society may change, but don't wait for it; start to work on yourself.

And, Joe, you remember that stuff about it makes no difference whether you win or lose; it's all how you play the game? Forget it. You fight your homosexual tendencies, you lose who cares?

But if you lose, let's be honest about this thing. Admit that homosexuality is a stop this side of maturity.

Don't argue that the homosexual is normal, that science has vindicated him, that heredity predestined his fate, that his only problem is to convince society to accept him as he is.

Abnormality is a "deviation from the norm." Either the heterosexual or the homosexual is abnormal. Which?

To argue that homosexuality is found throughout nature, and is therefore natural, overlooks the fact that nature can be freakish.

Quote Freud and Kinsey, if you like. But, Joe, do you live next door to Freud? Do you work for Kinsey?

. By now you must wonder why I'm sounding off like this, how I got my information.

It wasn't easy. I didn't study the disease; I have it.

Yes, Joe, I have seen you in public rest rooms, sat by you in theaters, followed you down the street. I desired you for a moment of pleasure; but I was restrained I like to believe by a love which " doth not behave itself unseemly."

Passion drove me to you; but love held me back.

That's why I write this to say that I love you, to say that I'm fighting it, to ask you to join the minority within the minority. It's more painful, yes, but the future is brighter. We walk alone today . . . in the hope that tomorrow we can find a love of which we are not ashamed.

You should know what lies down the other road.

.. hopeless days when you think of ending it all, and sleepless nights when you wish you had; wearing a mask, and fearing it will be yanked off; growing apart from other people, and pretending to be interested in the same things they are . . . and all the while you are haunted by the person you might have been.

Now you know and I have wanted so desperately for you to know the futility of our search, and I hope you will do something about it, before it is too late. Time does not work in your favor: the farther you go, the longer the road back.

I would that I could talk with you, listen to your story, sympathize with

you...

I would help me.

But, ironically, the best thing that I can do for you is nothing. That's the hell of our affliction.

See a doctor, Joe.

one

Anonymously yours,

END