EDITORIAL

Homosexuals reading the "non-discrimination" clause in Government contracts, which sets the official key for employment policies throughout the nation, might wonder with some reason whether the term "sexual orientation" should not be added to those specifying "race, creed," etc., and thus become a part of those conditions which should have no relevance to employment opportunities for every American. Not only is sexual orientation not mentioned in this list, which applies to private employers operating under Government contracts and to civil service universally, but homosexuality is a specific and positive disqualification in most, if not all forms of Government employment, notably the Armed Services (see ONE, August, 1960). As for the large private employer, even though he may not, in his directives, explicitly list homosexuality as a disqualification, it is nevertheless kept in mind during the employment interview and in investigations of character and other references, as one among a number of causes which would render a person unsuitable for a job. Yet the homosexual, who has no choice in the matter comparable, for example, to his choice of a religious faith, is as much entitled to non-discriminatory treatment, to job opportunity, and to job security, as any other U. S. citizen, and it is among the aims of homophile organizations to call this to the attention of the general public.

Unfortunately, statistics about private employers' attitudes toward homosexuality among employees are even more scanty than statistics about homosexuals themselves, so that in this area it is impossible to do more than generalize from the experiences of a comparative few; yet most homosexuals support themselves, many through excellent jobs of long standing, and the issue of economic opportunity and economic security for the homosexual really resolves itself into two phases:

one

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