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HOMOPHILE

DIASPORA

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A TALE OF TWO CITIES

The earliest homophile organization in the United States for which clear documentation exists was formed in Chicago in 1925. It had a very brief existence. Similar groups formed in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York and other cities from time to time and then faded away.

It was not until 1950 that the Mattachine Society, oldest of the three main organizations currently operating in this country, held its first meetings in Los Angeles. A full account of this development is given in Homosexuals Today. 1956, ONE Inc., now out of print.

The Society's history has often been a stormy one, compounded of internecine warfare, schisms, and many changes of structure and policies. As reported in "tangents" (ONE, May, June, 1961) the Mattachine Society, Inc. acted recently to divorce itself from its Area Councils, and by so doing launched five new homophile organizations in the U. S. into existence at the same time. Mattachine Area Councils had operated under national jurisdiction from San Francisco in: Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, and in San Francisco itself.

Now, one usually likes to think about starting a homophile organization for oneself before surging ahead. But these fledgling organizations had no such choice. They could, of course, dissolve, but none have done this, with the exception of the San Francisco Area Council. So at present, to the best of our knowledge, there are seven homophile organizations in existence in the United States including two Mattachine "Societies." The former New York Area Council of the Mattachine Society has elected to reorganize using the name Mattachine. using Mattachine mailing lists, Mattachine offices, letterhead, equipment, and reputation, etc.

In the light of these events, and in order to acquaint ONE's readers with the latest developments in the homophile world, the editors several weeks ago asked the Mattachine Society, Inc., of San Francisco, to write an account of the reasons for this latest development in Mattachine policies. At the same time the former New York Area Council was offered the opportunity to relate its position in reorganizing as the Mattachine Society of New York.

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