IS THERE AN ALTERNATIVE?

by

Arthur Sartoris

It seems to me that ONE, Inc., is working on one of the most compelling problems for the homosexual today, the problem of guilt and hurt inflicted by society at large on the homosexual minority. In publishing articles on the homophile, ONE attempts to persuade the individual reader that the isophyl is not an "irresponsible exhibitionist, tired or afraid of the opposite sex," but a product of nature, worthy of as much freedom as anyone else. In the courts of law, ONE seeks more freedom for the isophyl; and by making homosexual literature available to anyone, ONE is attempting to educate the general public.

It is true that the scene is slowly shifting toward more tolerance and freedom. We can see it in recent court decisions and in the increasing number of publications, dealing directly or indirectly with the issue, which are appearing on the newsstands. The freedom is obviously on the way, and it is precisely now, at the time when society seems to be willing to grant some ground, that ONE is performing its most important role, the role of preparing the homosexual for the new freedom.

Society asks, "will homosexuals really be responsible? Can they be trusted?" And the answer, if we are to gain, must be a convincing "Yes"! Time and time again, homosexuals have postponed their own emancipation by replying in the negative.

one

Witness the fate of the famed Wolfenden Report at the hands of one irresponsible homosexual. Whether or not society has a right to demand that isophyls be honest and reliable before giving them some leeway, when most of society is dishonest and irresponsible itself, is, perhaps, debatable, but the fact remains that society will not change its attitude toword the isophyl without that assurance, and the faster homosexuals develop reliability the sooner will the old taboos be banished.

There is another reason, on the side of being reliable, that has to do with the individual isophyl himself. If a man is irresponsible to others, he is likely to develop a very poor opinion of himself. Of course, if he is unreliable, society loses no time in pointing it out to him, which in turn adds to his feeling of unworthiness. After a time, he gives up trying to live up to any standards, whether they be standards governing his behavior in public or simply standards governing his own private life. Being unreliable, irresponsible or dishonest, has a cumulative effect on him until he finds himself, not only rejected by society, but, worse than that, rejected by himself.

We are faced with this problem! Can we be responsible? Will we be? Can we be worthy of a free erotic life? If we were worthy of this freedom, what would be a free erotic life be?

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