EDITORIAL

What is the position of ONE Magazine regarding "physique photographs?" This question has, from time to time, considerably agitated editorial meetings during the years since ONE was founded. From the many discussions it would appear that there are in general two quite opposite views of the question.

One view refers to the idealization of the human figure by artists down through the ages, of the right of each individual to collect and enjoy such types of art as he may prefer, of the immense popularity of physique photos in many American and European publications, and of the great number of photographic services featuring pictures of handsome young men in various stages of undress. Why, it is asked, are male nudes any less acceptable than either "calender art" or than Rubens?

The opposite view cites the many piteous appeals received in ONE's offices from those who have been arrested for having such photographs in their posession, and the countless news clippings about similar occurrences. It apparently is common police and courtroom practice to judge picture collections as being sufficient evidence of a plaintiff's homosexuality and guilt. One of the recent defectors to Russia was labelled as homosexual after some "physique photos" were found in his quarters, it will be remembered.

Other serious difficulties concern the confiscation or seizure of the mailing lists of those dealing in "physique photos," as well as the harrassments and arrests of editors and subscribers of some of the European homophile publications which have featured such pictures.

However, the most damning argument is not along such lines, but is phrased in Freudian terms. It is pointed out that a well-adjusted man of heterosexual tastes may perhaps admire a beautiful female nude in sculpture, painting or photography, but that he does not go about amassing collections of such items to pore over. Those who do so are generally discovered to be extremely maladjusted, some of them even dangerously so.

one

4