has repelled the intrusion of the police upon some homosexual's private life.
Mr. P.
Indianapolis, Ind.
POSTOFFICE POSTSCRIPTS
Dear Sten Russell:
Your bold Editorial (June, 1961) is a credit to you and to the Magazine. Just as I had thought, you people at ONE are in a position to discern certain trends, and you are doing your job when you view with alarm indications that are alarming.
Homosexuals are caught, almost helpless, between clashing forces. Perhaps they are acquiring a certain symbolic value as an outpost to be struck down, or saved, according to one's point of view, but I'm afraid too many people don't care what happens to them.
Edward Denison Texas
Court decision in which the plea of the claimant is so reasonable that it is horrible to read that the two lower courts had refused it. Mr. T.
Dear Sirs:
Bryn Mawr, Pa.
In the few copies of your Magazine which I have seen you have asked for newspaper cuttings, and because of an expected raid I am sending you my few.
A recent incident here has shown me that we must unite and I am in the process of forming an association. I do hope that in the near future I will be able to conduct a few private meetings and that we shall be able to get through to the legislators of this country, but at first we must have private meetings. Mr. W.
Melbourne, Australia
Dear Mr. Lambert:
I am certainly very grateful to you for your interest and concern regarding my difficulty with the mails. I for one am glad that the Magazine has taken the stand it has in not only enlightening your homophile readers, but for calling this to the attention of the public in general. Let all who will be warned. Let us hope they will be guided accordingly.
In all probability there may be some amongst us who will disapprove or ridicule ONE's warnings, but those of us who are in the know as to what is actually going on can only say that they have been told of the true circumstances. Allowing this matter to go on unchecked will only increase its viciousness and could be far-reaching, even beyond the circle of homophiles.
There may even be some who may delude themselves by thinking, "It can't happen here." I can only say to them that they are day-dreamers for IT ALREADY IS HAPPENING
HERE!
Dear ONE:
Mr. P.
Calif.
The enclosed clippings tell of the arrests of many men who had taken part in a pen pal club. I realize that the Club members perhaps wrote illegally, but I have never been able to understand why it is that first-class letters between people who at least know each other are any concern of the postoffice.
I can see that the indiscriminate mailing of action words or pictures could do harm but cannot see that between persons of like mind it has any effect on the public as a whole. The whole area of censorship seems open to sensible attack. I also enclose a recent Supreme
one
Dear Mr. Slater:
Having for the first time today read a copy of ONE I was most interested in the idea of pen pals. It is quite clever, as it would permit homosexuals to have that all-important constant friend to whom they could confide, turn to for sympathy and use as a wall against loneliness without the worries which come from a (geographically) closer relationship.
Why couldn't someone act as an agent to join applicants by criteria of interests and backgrounds through the mails?
Dear Editor:
Mr. C.
New York, N. Y.
I feel that one of the best things that could be done would be to establish a pen pals club to assist those of us who would like to make contacts with those of like interests. I have read several letters in your Magazine from people I would enjoy writing to. Pen pals can mean a lot. I truly believe that those who discount the value of this relationship are those whose only claim to homosexuality is "going to bed" with someone.
Mr. L. Apalachicola, Fla.
THAT CRUISE THROUGH EUROPE
Dear Friends:
We are pleased to inform you that we are planning a conference in cooperation with our friends in "Forbundet av 1948" during the stay of the Director of ONE Institute in Copenhagen. We hope at that time it will be possible to gather together all the editors of the Scandinavian homophile press.
E. Nielsen, Editor EOS, Copenhagen
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