Dr. Baker stressed that the great need of homophiles is self-acceptance; therefore, she urged those present to be able to think of themselves in terms of larger dimensions. She pointed out that human beings are bi-sexual, not just male or female. Homosexuals are human beings too! Many are interesting, real, unusual, creative, beautyloving people, if one can get behind the mask of pretense and sham so many of them feel compelled to wear to protect their sensitive souls from the condemnation and hate levelled at them by a hostile, prejudiced and uncomprehending society. Homosexuals have a definite place in society today as in the past, but they must demonstrate their true worth by coming to know and accept themselves, thus releasing their true potentials which are all too often blocked by their lack of self-confidence and reflected hostility. Stereotyped thinking blocks progress in understanding these "different" people. In order to bring out the gradients of sex potentials, Dr. Baker asked Gavin Arthur, who has just completed his manuscript for "The Circle of Sex," which is being published in Holland in three different languages, to make some comments. Gavin mentioned that marriage should not be possessive and he suggested the reading of the books, The Art of Love, by Eric Fromm, and Sex Perfection and Marital Happiness by Rudolf von Urban. In Rudolf von Urban's book reference is made to stroking and petting as a very essential form of lovemaking, in contrast with outright sex, where it begets much more understanding. Along this line, he also cited Lady Chatterly's Lover by D. H. Lawrence, as being a truly beautiful love story. Any human being who suffers pain, rejection by his fellows, overly strict authoritarian control, neglect or over-indulgence, may develop neurotic or psychotic conditions and need psychiatric help. Homosexuals are no ex-
ception. Usually there is considerable hate released toward the parent or parents who fail to understand them. Thus the term "gay" may be used to refer to homosexuals in adolescent rebellion. Much of what they term "cruising" is a search for the other self, a companion who can understand-not just sex -and much of their frenetic lovemaking is a compulsive drive to find their elusive ego-ideal, which has generally been damaged by the same sex parent, but with resentment. In well organized and carefully moderated discussion groups, such as the one being described, there is the opportunity to understand ourselves better, develop self-acceptance and the ability to stand alone, which helps us to become more integrated and more secure daring to release more of our real selves.
Dr. Baker hopes to organize such discussion groups, if her health becomes sufficiently improved so that she may visit Los Angeles once a month. These educational and research pro-. grams point the way of a new day for this outcast group of talented people. There are many opportunities for leadership here, especially the teenage homosexual who needs guidance along this line. If, in the United States alone, as has been estimated, there are between 12 million and 15 million homosexuals, to quote Dr. Kinsey and other leading research experts, then the social, economic and venereal disease problems involved are staggering. Certainly such a wide-spread problem as this deserves much more careful study and evaluation than it has received heretofore. Ignoring the problem or condemning the homosexual does not solve the enigma and often makes it worse by bringing forth more overt hostility. It seems apparent that the only way is to accept and appreciate the homosexual thus bringing forth his better side and encouraging him to accept a constructive place in society. One of the major factors in
27