Letters

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES DO THE EDITORS FORWARD LETTERS FROM READERS TO OTHER PERSONS NOR DO THEY ANSWER CORRESPONDENCE MAKING SUCH REQUESTS.

SOCIETY AND THE HOMOSEXUAL Dear Don Slater:

I am working on a newsletter in which I shall record many of the interesting experiences I have had lately. There have been a number of breakthroughs in this area. One must seize every opportunity to speak at public meetings, etc., if anything is to be accomplished.

Dear Mr. Editor:

Prescott Townsend Demophil Center, Boston, Massachusetts

I wish to tell you something about myself. I've been practising the Gay Life for the past ten years. I'm twenty-three years old, born in New York of Puerto Rican parents. It's true I have had happy days and sad days in those ten years.

I've met people when I was the first to explain to them something about the homosexual world, and went through a great deal. of pain and persecution as a result, but I must say I had victory because of my testimony.

The biggest problem was with my father and mother and the girl I was supposed to marry. I am sure you can picture the complete story in your mind. It was real painful, but through my behavior there came a time in which they were able to try to understand my way of life. They still love me as their son and I respect them as my parents.

I've met boys and girls and told them the story. It has been a help to them in their everyday life. There are people who do not understand and we must set an example in our daily life which they can look at and see that there is still good in us and it's possible some day they'll sit down and think to themselves.

Mr. C.

Brooklyn, New York

Dear Mr. Slater:

The homophile movement must have people within its ranks who are homosexuals who have become recognized leaders within "society proper." I realize that this is a difficult proposal but I think I have seen a recognizable shift toward this within my own lifetime.

When I was in high school the teachers who were Gay would not even try to help the young homosexual understand himself, but only a few years later, I find that Gay professors I have come into contact with will do all in their power to aid the promising homosexual in a move upward.

Of course, this is only within the range of the profession of educators but I am sure that you will realize the social implications, perhaps even better than I do.

Gentlemen:

Miss S. Brooklyn, New York

In spite of the slight increase in the degree of acceptance by the public no man (or woman) who desires to live any sort of respectable and full life can allow himself the liberty of proclaiming his homosexuality to the world.

Let's face it; it's going to be an awfully long time before we can ever hope to be fully accepted by society as a whole whether or not their denial of our way of life is hypocritical or bona fide. What we need, then, is not a courageous bombardment upon society. of our rights to a place in that society or to see worldwide embrace of our activities in ten easy lessons. What we need is a subtle, definite and genuine beginning.

Before we can expect greater acceptance by straight society we must first of all be capable of accepting ourselves. The true homosexual has little use for the faggot, and in fact recognizes this type as the real destructive force which impairs any hope for progress in the quest for acceptance. So long as we live in society with other people we cannot inflict upon them such behavior as to warrant their intolerance. I feel it is necessary to show the world that we are not necessarily a degenerate lot.

Mr. D.

Los Angeles, California

YOUNG BUT FOR A DAY Dear sirs:

I have no quarrel with the beauty of the female form, but do believe that the male physique has many esthetic perfections also. There are, as you know, unique qualities and quantities to each. Also, only when they have matured to the year of eighteen and beyond do they fulfill these esthetical perfections. Mr. E.

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