interesting. We are both in our early thirties. We have been together since 1952. I had one or two satisfying homosexual experiences in my adolescence but did not enter gay life completely until I married my partner. During my adolescence I was aware of my homosexual inclinations but dated girls in the belief that I might grow out of these desires. My partner realized his homosexual leaning in his early childhood and was a thoroughgoing homosexual when I met him. Parents on both sides know the score and I am accepted in his home by his parents when we make a rare visit there. We have a joint bank account and none of the furniture belongs to either one of us as such. We do not have a social life apart from one another except as our jobs demand, which is not often. We socialize mainly with other married couples who share our interests and type of marriage. We know about three "genuine" gay marriages among male homosexuals, numerous marriages of varying degrees of convenience and two or three marriages among Lesbians. Being new residents of California, we cannot estimate the number of marriages which might exist in, let us say, San Diego or LA. Many of our friends from back east have preceded us to this state, so making friends is no great problem. Perhaps I should say making acquaintances instead of friends, but we count ourselves fortunate to know several couples quite well and we call them friends with more than average correctness. We also know several homosexuals who maintain a heterosexual marriage, the aspect of which provides varying degrees of amusement and pathos.

In conclusion, let me say that ONE Magazine has done well to connect itself with a person of your understanding and interest in our common problem of social adjustment. I can

but hope this indicates a trend. Listening to KPFK-FM as I do, I cannot but hope that in time ONE Magazine will be represented by more articulate people in its panel discussions and be able to speak with greater authority born of university training on the subject it might be tempted to believe it has mastered.

Very truly yours, C.L.R.

Dear C. L. R.

Bakersfield, Calif.

Many thanks for your informative and frank letter. I agree with our Editor that we "have seldom seen a more sane appraisal of the adjusted homosexual partnership". However, this subject has not been entirely neglected by ONE Magazine for there was an article on homosexual marriage in the August 1953 issue. The subject of the "gay marriage," as well as the hetero marriage has been of great professional interest to me. In over 25 years of dealing with sexual problems and marriage counseling, I have found that the basic needs and problems of both marriages are quite similar. It may come as a surprise to many people that there is such a relationship as a "gay" or homosexual marriage, but, because the homo marriage is not socially, legally or morally approved it is rendered more vulnerable, as you have indicated. The homo marriage has the doubtful advantages of being more easily consummated... and more easily dissolved than the hetero marriage which is more closely cemented by legal, religious and social bonds. However, this does not mean that the hetero marriage is any more happy or successful, for, as Dr. Paul Popenoe, Director of the American Institute of Family Relations in Los Angeles, has stated: "Most American marriages are not real marriages, but are simply not divorces."

It might be well at this point to consider the real or realistic purposes for

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