said that only when homosexuals habitually assembled in great numbers to absorb one another's feelings, resentments, aspirations, "auras" and "adhesiveness," could they really begin to develop a group-consciousness and a worthy role in history. At least that's a rough translation of what he said. I couldn't follow some parts of it.

A real nelly one was camping it up in a large crowd of Bikini-clad youths. nearby. I knew one of them, Billy Forsing, slightly, and Ronnie wanted an introduction, so we went over and joined them. I didn't hit it off too well. Like an importunate reporter, more concerned with analyzing the beach than enjoying it. I asked the nelly one if he thought it gave a very good impression to make such a display in public.

"Well get this one!" one of the others shrilled. and most of the bunch quickly flounced off for a swim, leaving Ronnie and me with Billy and George, the nelly one. He turned on me like an angry cat. "You're darned

right I camp it up out here. Why not? It's about time these yokels learned to face the fact that we exist. I'm tired of hiding it. I work in a prissy office where half the guys in the place are really belles, but they'd all faint dead. away if anyone dropped a bobby pin. I come out here to let my hair down, and I let it down good. Anybody else out here is here for the same reason, or else they've come to see the show. Show they want-show they'll getfrom me at least." With that, he upped and did a quick imitation of a strip teaser saucily showing her backside to the audience, and ran off to join his friends.

Then Ronnie and I took off for one of the gay bars facing the beachand those bars are different from any other gay bars I've ever seen; they're really a sort of extension of the beach -and then wandered down for a look at biceps-bumpers that were exhibiting their rippling muscles farther down the beach. And that place in itself is something to write about . . . some other time.

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