homosexual urge in himself. He didn't want it to be that way, but this terrific urge was within him and is still pressuring him at this time."

Dr. Adler said, "We don't know what causes homsexuality There's no curing it." He said that asking for the death penalty is Leonard's way of trying to commit suicide because of "an uncontrollable sex urge." "If the homosexual instinct he repressed could have come out, the chances would have been complete release of tension."

Leonard threatened that if sent to prison he would kill any homosexual who came near him. But the jury denied his wish for the electric chair, gave him a 99-yr. sentence (not eligible for parole for 50 years). He appeared relieved, but said he was disappointed.

Asked by a newswoman if he would turn to God, he said, "No, because I have let Him down. Yes, I've attended Church, the Nazarene and the Assembly of God and the Church of God. But that was long ago. Each time I have been in trouble before, I have prayed and read the Bible. Out on the streets again, I forgot all about Him... I know I should give my heart to God, but I made up my mind I was not going to ask the Lord to help me the next time I got in jail. So I don't intend to look to Him to help me in any way."

What more can be said except to repeat Dr. Adler's highly-charged "IF" if only "the homosexual instinct he repressed could have come out..." Leonard could have been a free man, and Bennett and McMahon still alive.

Which crowds out several other stories from Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Odessa, L.A., Oregon, Tangiers and England. Next time perhaps...

one

Toward

Understanding"!

Answers to Questions

A serious question and answer column. An entirely new idea in homophile publishing. "Toward Understanding" will appear monthly in the pages of ONE starting with the January 1959 issue.

The Psychiatric Viewpoint

Designed to be of vital interest. and benefit to ONE's readers “Toward Understanding" will focus its attentions from the psychiatric viewpoint. A highly respected and well-qualified California psychiatrist will preside over the selection and answering of your questions

A Better Understanding

In “Toward Understanding” we hope our readers will find the answers to some of their problems. There are no pat answers, we know. No one can tell another how to live, but perhaps through this column we will be able to discover a better understanding of homosexual problems.

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