case

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"There arrive in Los Angeles and its vicinity each day about two hundred and fifty homosexuals," wrote Charles Rowland, then director of ONE's Social Service Division in 1956*. This immigration had been apparent to us ever since ONE's founding in 1952. What was not known then was where these people go; what they do; what becomes of them.

When we established offices we soon discovered that for many the answers to the problems of homosexual living were not easy to come by. That whereas many homosexuals make satisfactory adjustments and lead busy, useful lives, others simply are not able to. The new arrivals as well as established residents created a heavy demand for counsel of those in trouble with the law, or without jobs, or with family problems. From their questions concerning vocational guidance, employment service, legal assistance and emotional problems, ONE's Social Service Division emerged. As a result, a very large collection of personal documents and case histories accumulated

and extensive training and experience was given to staff members in dealing with the problems of homosexuals.

To give some idea of the nature and the scope of ONE's files, there have been since 1952 more than 16,000 contacts made with individuals resulting in written records. There have been approximately 4,000 telephone calls received ranging all the way from simple requests for information to drunken, obscene railings and hysterical blurtings of those who claimed they were about to commit suicide. In addition, staff members have conducted about 5,000 interviews with persons who have called at ONE's offices. In many cases the visits have been repeated and have resulted in a file kept up to date and followed through to completion.

One cannot but wonder how many thousands of others unable to obtain sympathetic understanding, working by day returning home every night, live and die without quite knowing what their lives are about. The January 1959 issue of ONE magazine

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