one

& the

U. S. Postoffice

HERE IS HOW IT ALL STARTED

ROUND I:

Under a bold heading, "ONE Is Not Grateful," the front and back covers of ONE Magazine for October, 1953, ran this brief story: -

"Your August (1953) issue was late because the Postal Authorities in Washington and Los Angeles had it under a microscope. They studied it carefully from the 2nd until the 18th of September and finally decided that there was nothing obscene, lewd, or lascivious in it. They allowed it to continue on its way. We have been found suitable for mailing.

"This official decision changes our status considerably. Incredible as it may seem to everyone but us, we have been pronounced respectable, The Post Office found that ONE is obscene in no way, incites no one to anything but thought, and doesn't want to overthrow the Government. This decision will also indicate to the timorous deviate that we are a safer bet than once assumed. Many who were contented to be told what to read, will now reconsider the matter of their own dignity and human rights. Subscriptions will mount astronomically. We are prepared.

"But one point must be made very clear. ONE is not grateful. ONE thanks no one for this reluctant acceptance. It is true that this decision is historic. Never before has a governmental agency of this size admitted that homosexuals not only have legal rights but might have respectable motives as well. The admission is welcome, but it's tardy and far from enough. As we sit around quietly like nice little ladies and gentlemen, gradually educating the public and the courts at our leisure, thousands of homosexuals are being unjustly arrested, blackmailed, fined, jailed, intimidated, beaten, ruined and murdered ONE's victory might seem big and historic as you read of it in the comfort of your home .. But the deviate hearing of our late August issue through jail bars will not be overly impressed.

"There's still a bit to be done. Want to help?"

ROUND II

A lot of water has gone over the dam in the last three and one-half years. Subscriptions did NOT mount astronomically, as thenEditor Dale Jennings so hopefully predicted. Neither did this happen after the same authorities stopped another issue of ONE Magazine the October, 1954 issue.

The outcome of the latter incident was not, however, so fortunate. The local Postmaster withheld this issue from dispatch as "obscene, lewd, lascivious and filthy," requiring the Corporation to show cause, within a specified time, why this issue should not be disposed of as non-mailable matter.

The Corporation then commenced an action against the local Postmaster, seeking a judgment in the United States District Court declaring the October, 1954 issue of ONE Magazine lawful and mailable, and an injunction against the local Postal authorities, enjoining them against failing to dispatch, in regular course, the issue of ONE Magazine above referred to.