often, either. I'll tell you why. I have two very good buddies, see? One, I never would have thought I'd feel romantic with. Things started, and we had sex just for the sex. Sometimes you need that, if nothing else. Then somehow-oh, he was a nice enough fellow-I became rather attached to him, like an old mongrel dog you have around the place and don't pay much attention to, until one day you miss it. I miss him when he's not around for a spell. He's convenient to have around, and we do things for each other. Besides sex, I

mean.

What's your other buddy like?

He's different. He's romantic. I don't want to talk about him here.

Is it difficult for a homosexual to carry on a satisfactory sex life in a small town?

I don't know as it's any harder here than in the big cities, but I can say that some fellas can't operate here. They're too uncomfortable. If you're not for a little town, you better get out.

What's the most difficult problem you have to face here?

Putting up with the infernal questions. 'When are you going to get married?' That's what I have to face. Now they're beginning to call me 'the old bachelor.' Some say, 'He's too particular, no girl will ever satisfy him.' or they'll say, 'You better hurry up, or all the nice girls will be gone.'

What do you say?

Then I say, 'I figure that's what's already happened.' So they nod their heads and feel sorry for me, and say 'I told you so."

What are your future plans?

I don't know. I haven't any.

one

About business, I have. Not about marriage. I'll go on this way. Suits me. Not perfect, but what can you expect?

If you could change something in the world, what would you change?

I'd shut the traps of the old women, some of the men, too, who are so smart, they think they know everything, and try to make everybody fit into their way of living, when some of them aren't doing so well, themselves. Opinion is very strong in a small town. In a bigger place, people aren't so sure about everything. They don't know quite everybody. It gives a person more of a chance, if he's different.

Thank you, Pete, for letting us listen to your views. The problem of the homosexual in the small town is obviously quite different from that of his comrade in the big city. It isn't so easy to find special friends. There aren't the opportunities for those who feel convivial to meet. There isn't the disinterested neighborhood where one can live anonymously. Worst of all is the prying eye and opinionated tongue of many inhabitants of small towns. They're not all like that, but enough are to make it uncomfortable for most homosexuals. It is a lonely life to be a homosexual there, unless one can make a more or less satisfactory sex arrangement, and at the same time, to a large extent, live as the town is living. Some homosexuals find this so difficult to do, they are happier in a big city. Others, like Pete, whose adjustment problem is not so acute, and whose private living and sex arrangements are not impossible, find a measure of satisfaction from the homosexual aspect of their lives, and at the same time are decent, respectable, contributing members of their society.

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