tangents

news & views

In March issue of PICTURE SCOPE, a pocketsize sex-tease mag, Emery Clarke asks ARE GAY BOYS AMERICA'S FIFTH COLUMN? and answers his question with a repetition of the tired old lies that have become "party line" in the guttersnipe mags -that homosexuality has multiplied 700% in England in recent years, that most traitors and spies are cowardly homosexuals afraid of blackmail, that "the majority of 'queers' hold high income jobs and important positions in most nations", that a homosexual cabal is plotting the return of Hitlerism in Germany-and the run-of-the-mill slanders about ONE that go with all that. Next thing, someone will come up with a "Protocol of the Learned Queens of Gaydom" and people might start taking this plot seriously. Whoever is behind these smut-and-slander mags, with their constant scares about homosexual plots, is building up the same type of propaganda campaign-a wild concoction of senseless babbling, vicious distortions and outright lies -with which Hitler turned a crackpot anti-semitic propaganda barrage (homosexuals are the victims this time) into a juggernaut that threatened to crush the whole world. I suppose most of these publishers are out for the fast buck-and nothing more. But they're playing with a highly explosive propaganda line. This much they obviously recognize: that homosexuals are next

one

by dal mcintire

in line for the role of #1 national scapegoat, and anyone who wants to take potshots at the homosexuals can do so with impunity, since even groups like the A.C.L.U. are too cowardly to take a clear stand in favor of civil rights for homosexuals . . .

HOT TIME

Chicago had quite a "heat wave" this year. Early in January, Joseph Smith, a retired Negro painter, complained to his alderman about white men, known as "Johns", driving through the 63rd St. area, honking and calling obscenely to Negro women. Cops, trying to cover-up, arrested Smith on trumped-up charge of consorting with prostitutes. That backfired. Ministers, chamber of commerce, Negro press, grand jury, et al, howled for cleanup, and 400 cops descended on area. Chicago Trib said this hurt biz so bad that only. saloon with any life was one on 63rd St. "which caters to perverts. Life goes on with them despite the heat on the rest of the street."

In raid on 2 Calumet City (on Illinois-Indiana border) bistros, one February nite, 9 persons, including a male strip tease dancer, from the Little Club, were rounded up. Neighbors in 1300 block of North Dearborn complained about apartment rented to 5 boys-none related. Apt raided during party with 52 boys (no girls) present.

14