MATTACHINE SOCIETY

CONVENTION

The Fourth Annual Convention of the Mattachine Society, Incorporated convened in San Francisco over the Labor Day weekend, opening with a reception, given by PanGraphic Press and closing three days later with the business session of the Society.

The following excerpts are from a report of the meetings made by Miss Sten Russell, for the past several years on the staff of ONE:

The Convention was officially opened by Don Lucas, President, who spoke of the ever-present need for funds to carry out the Society's work, and spiked the claim of those who said they could not afford to pay the dues of $10 per year by saying that such persons could well pay $100 per year if they really wanted to.

An address, "After ArrestWhat?" by Kenneth Zwerin, Attorney, stated that few people could adjust to the traumatic situation of arrest well enough to avoid saying or doing the things that make it next to impossible for an attorney to help them much. He told a little story of "an average gay boy," accused of lewd conduct say for changing his trunks in a beachside comfort station. He followed the lad through booking, the misdemeanor "tank," obtaining bail, jail-side lawyer, and a judge of nondescript character.

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By STEN RUSSELL

He gets off with a fine and a few months of probation, then gets another job. Then comes a chance at a really high-paying job-insurance salesman. He tries for it but is turned down, for his picture is on file in Washington with the FBI. It seems that bonding companies will not take a chance on a man who has even been suspected of being. a homosexual. So the boy stays at his old job. Not too terrible is it? It could have been worse. Usually is, as were cases cited. "But," as Mr. Zwerin said, "most people don't kill themselves. The mind is just as good a place to drown."

After arrest-what? "Tragedy, perennial tragedy," though he closed on a more hopeful note, saying that the situation was improving concerning sexual acts between two consenting adults.

"Must the Individual Homosexual be Rejected in Our Time?" was the subject for a panel discussion by Dr. Harry Benjamin, Psychiatrist, New York City; Leo Zeff, Clinical Psychologist, Berkeley, California; Julia W. Coleman & William A. Baker, Social Workers, San Carlos, California; Dr. Alfred Auerback, Ass't Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California. Moderator was Sam Morford, Psychologist, San Francisco.

Dr. Benjamin felt that the question itself arose out of a form of "puritanical terror;" that the en-

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