EDITORIAL

Ten years ago one of the Editors wrote in the very first issue of ONE Magazine, "Were all homosexuals and bisexuals to unite militantly, unjust laws and corruption would crumble in short order and we, as a nation, could go on to meet the really important problems which face us. Were heterosexuals to realize that these violations of our rights threaten theirs equally, a vast reform might even come within our lifetime."

Such was ONE's position then. It is ONE's position today. We have been roundly criticized year in and year out for being so militant, so undiplomatic. The majority of other homophile organizations here and abroad have judged ONE's attitude to be both uncouth and unwise.

While most of the European organizations try to keep themselves as unobtrusive as possible and direct their publications toward a restricted in-group circulation, one American homophile organization pursues in general a soft-sell, "Madison Avenue" type of be-polite-to-important-people public relations, while another one vigorously resists the concept that as citizens homosexuals should demand what belongs to them. This group's diligent opposition to the "Bill of Rights" theme of ONE's 1961 Midwinter Institute will be recalled as illustrating this viewpoint.

ONE has never felt that it was wholesome to keep on "saying, Peace, peace; where there is no peace," as Jeremiah has it. ONE has preferred being called a trouble-maker to remaining silent in the face of the vicious, unconstitutional treatment so widely accorded the homosexual. It has never hesitated to stand up and be counted, or to challenge evils in high places and in low.

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