ONE salutes Rolf & Der Kreis

In October, DER KREIS, oldest of homophile publications, celebrates the 25th anniversary of its founding. Issued monthly from Zurich, Switzerland, with text in German, French and English, DER KREIS publishes stories, articles, poetry, news items, book reviews as well as announcements of its own other activities such as regular meetings and festivities. Lists of other homophile publications and meetings and extensive bibliographical items are regularly included.

The remarkable achievement of 25 years of successful conduct of a publication devoted to the interests of homosexuals arouses such natural questions as: What have been their aims and policies? Who are those responsible for such a remarkable achievement? How has it been financed?

Exerpts from an interview with Rolf, Editor-in-Chief of DER KREIS, conducted by Norbert Weissenhagen of the International Committee for Sexual Equality (ICSE) of Amsterdam, Holland, give illuminating answers to these and many other questions. The translation from the German is by Joe Bush.

Rolf emphasized that DER KREIS is not formally organized, and has no officers. It is, rather, "a very loose association of subscribers." The workers on the staff publish the magazine, keep necessary office records, read the manuscripts, answer letters and constitute a committee for "staging the regular meetings and the bigger events

without formal titles. Each one helps where he is needed."

EARLY STRUGGLES

When first issued in 1932, the magazine was titled, "Freundschafts-Banner." Organ of the Swiss Friendship Movement. Editor and Publisher was Fredy-Torrero. It consisted of but eight typewritten pages.

In 1933 the name was changed to "Schweiterische Freundschafts-Banner, the official organ of the Swiss Friendship Society in Zurich." The new editor was Mammina. "This brave woman held the magazine above water for several years with great personal sacrifice."

Rolf began to work with her in 1935. In 1938 a new name was adopted, "Menschenrecht, Magazine

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for Dispelling Proscription and Prejudice." which continued as its title until 1943 when the name DER KREIS became official. Rolf had become editor the year before.

Meanwhile, "In 1939 the Swiss Friendship Society was disbanded because of constant dissension and moreover because of the financial unreliability of the members... We decided to abstain for all time from the reestablishment of any kind of ‘Friendship Society,' because we have no desire to relive those painful experiences and above all because we want to spare the magazine from the pettiness which seems to characterize such societies. We are, and will remain, a loose association of subscribers who are given an accounting of their funds but who have no say as to the constitution of the magazine."

Regarding earlier conditions as regards punishment of homosexuals in Switzerland, "before 1939 each Canton (there are 22 of these, or 26 if you count the Half-Cantons) had its own criminal code. The advocacy of a unified criminal code began in the

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