of publication made appear together with the title "Homophile Marriage," alas!) should have been drawn by one of our worst enemies. Do really the editors of ONE think we can simply show such a publication to a nonhomophile friend? And do really such drawings on the cover page contribute to giving the public a notion of homosexuals as normal healthy people?
Dear friends:
Marc Daniel, ARCADIE Paris, France
What a delightful cover on your June issue, truly a sophisticated correlating of at least some of the problems (and joys) of the idea of Homophile Marriage in literary and artistic terms. But you have probably had brickbats from all manner of country folk. Don't swerve! Swish, if necessary, but never swerve from your course.
Sirs:
Mr. G.
Little Rock, Arkansas
Excuse me for writing so much to you wonderful people but I must answer that correspondent who said he had no use for the faggot who is out to destroy those fighting for homosexual rights. I think that person should stop to think a bit. According to much of society we ALL are faggots. So it is just a question of semantics.
The faggot is just going through a phase of homosexual development. Many of us don't go through this phase. Others do and their struggle for acceptance is just a little more difficult. We homosexuals must stop practicing intolerance and prejudice among our own ranks before we can expect the world to listen to us. We ARE different, but that difference can make us extremely beneficial and productive to any society.
Mr. G.
Fire Island, New York VIEWPOINTS THAT DEVIATE
Sirs:
If you publish free expression this is my thought of the future failure of your Magazine and its purposes. I am a homosexual, just as an alcoholic must admit his problem. Yes, I still think of sexual life but have more comfort in my Catholic conversion and will continue to pray for ridding my desires of the flesh. It is wrong and anyone who has read a tiny portion of the Bible knows this. I have homosexual friends of the so-called nicer class, and also street-walkers. To me there is no difference, except that one tries to find 'love' behind draped windows.
Your Magazine, which I once read, has marvellous articles in it but this country will never accept abnormal living because of the great spiritual wave against Communism and evil of all kinds. If God had wanted us to continue sensual encounters he would never have destroyed the cities of Sodom and
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Gomorrah. Normal people think that homo's are trying to change the natural way of living. Mr. G.
Dear ONE:
New Orleans, Louisiana
For thousands of years before the JudeoChristian religious system was established people all over the world believed the male organ of generation was the source of all life and the power which sustained life once it commenced to exist. Therefore, the phallus was worshipped and kept exposed to view.
In all honesty, I think the widespread practice of male gaiety is a carryover of this ancient priapic worship. I have tried very hard and faithfully to embrace the religion in which I would serve and adore the God referred to in Holy Writ but got nothing out of it. I was always shunned in Christian houses of worship.
The last Christian congregation I belonged to had over a thousand members and no matter how regularly I attended services; no matter how enthusiastically I took part I had great difficulty finding a sponsor when I finally united with that church. After I joined three people besides the pastor welcomed me. I finally gave up the Christian life and am much happier embracing the phallic deity. Mr. C. New York, N.Y.
Dear ONE:
I have read and enjoyed the Magazine since June, 1962 but as far as the art work is concerned I think improvement is needed. Very few of your covers are worthy of any merit, in fact I can think of only one that was, October, 1962.
Some covers have been done in poor taste. There must be interesting and imaginative design or photographs since this is the first thing people see. Too much black and white is used. The interior sketches are a total loss. They just fill up empty space, are unattractive and look like coffee-break doodlings. I hope I am not the only reader who considers this part of your Magazine important enough to write a letter about.
Gentlemen:
Mr. S.
San Francisco, California
A song popular between forty and fifty years ago was, "Where Did Robinson Crusoe Go With Friday on Saturday Night?" (Tangents, June, 1963). It was a provocative title and we slyly hummed the song at dancing classes, but the parodies were reserved for the lockerroom.
So innocent were we in those days that we thought "coming out parties" were the kind debutantes' parents gave for them. My world, since those days has changed, but human nature hasn't.
Mr. W. Washington, D.C.
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