Dear Sirs:
May I say that the sonnet sequence "Testament is in my opinion one of the finest things the Magazine has ever published. Please give us more material of that quality.
Gentlemen:
Mr. S.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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"Gentle Sir" excellent to your lover by firelight (which I
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be read to did). In the Wicked issue "Francesca and the Giant an amusing camp. As to Roger Barth's adolescent fantasy, I can't really believe anyone reasonably matured could find that attractive or satisfactory. Tangents and Books, looked forward to as always.
Gentlemen:
Mr. J.
Buffalo, New York
May I compliment you on the May issue of the Magazine. Having just perused the April, May and June issues of ONE Confidential I know that the difficulties under which you brought it out were awesome, and appreciated by some of us. Please accept the enclosed check as an expression of gratitude for your heroic efforts. Would it were for more!
May I make a humble genuflection to James Ramp and his equisite, well-nigh perfect sonnet "Gentle Sir." As a matter of fact, in my opinion, the sonnet was perfect in its oh hell, everything! It happens to be a glorious example of the Shakespearian sonnet; unfortunately its printed form was more or less that of the Italian sonnet. However, since the sonnet, even to a pedant, is fluid in form and strictly up to its maker, I am registering no complaint.
Jim Ramp's work is a polished, polished piece of loving workmanship, a thoughtful, tender gem "of purest ray serene.' Be he one hundred and eight years old, male or female, healthy or crippled, his soul certainly is not; neither is his technical poetic facility. Mr. R. Glendale, California
FRANCESCA THE WICKED
Dear Editors:
I am not generally impelled to write letters to editors. However, having been a subscriber since April, 1953, I feel a real concern for the Magazine and its future as one of the few spokesmen for all of us.
Recently, there seems to be a tendency to include more and more fiction, which is not only appallingly bad, but in extremely poor taste. Frankly the story "Francesca" left me feeling slightly ill. Please do not construe this as a blast against fiction in general. But
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please don't jeopardize the whole Magazine for the sake of sensationalism. You have worked too long and too hard for that.
Governor Bryant's Committee has finally reached this area. Local police have been given lectures on the menace of homosexuals and how to recognize them. My first thoughts when the situation arose included sending some copies of ONE to local law enforcement officers to counter the State's propaganda. Further consideration convinced me that some of the material recently published would convince them that all they've heard about us is true.
Mr. S. Riviera Beach, Florida
THE FLORIDA FUROR CONTINUED Dear Mr. Slater:
The state of Florida would do well to follow the example of Illinois. Unfortunately, the harassing of homosexuals continues. Currently, the Johns Legislative Committee is investigating reports of homosexuality at the University of South Florida.
It seems to me that if adults engage in homosexual practices by mutual consent and in private without impairing the morals of minors, then they should not be denied the right to do so. Theoretically, every American is supposed to have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. However, in many cases this is denied to the homosexual, who faces loss of employment and security if it is discovered he is homosexual.
In many states there are laws against racial discrimination in employment. This should also apply to sexual practices.
Gentlemen:
Leon T. Pike Grove City, Florida
That gross little piece "Francesca," by John Thomas is indeed wicked. It decidedly was in poor taste to print it and I frankly was disappointed in ONE for including such trash. I can appreciate your wanting to include "something for everyone," but really, you must draw the line somewhere. I don't like to think what heterosexuals would think of us if they read such a thing as representative of our mouthpiece.
Dear friends:
Mr. W.
Durham, North Carolina
Heard over the radio today: "Coral Gables, suburb of Miami University of Miami — about 22 men arrested in bus station restroom; call boy ring supposedly existed." Have not seen anything about it in the local papers.
Also, Tampa University has been visited for some time by the Johns Committee to
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