and I'm tryin' to help you, and you go and git smart." His voice became confidential. "You know, some of the goin's-on at this here school is scandalous. I'd hate to see a nice, well-brought-up kid like you mixed up in these doin's. Think of your poor parents, working hard back home for you to git a college education. They's gonna be mighty hurt. I know I would if you was my kid. We'd have to ask you to resign from the University, and once something's on your record, there's not a school in this country that'll take you in. You can save yourself trouble and spare your parents, jest by tellin' me about your frien's. Now that's fair, ain't it?"

"Mr. Javits, that's how I got here one of your 'deals'. And I know what happened to the boy who gave you my name and a hundred others. He left this afternoon with his father. Make your deals with people you can scare and leave me alone!"

"Leave you alone, you says! Ha!! We'll never leave you alone!! When I git through there won't be a queer left in this lovely state! This is jest the beginnin'. Now, is you, or ain't you queer?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't you though? Don't you? I know you are, so sittin' there an' sayin' you ain't, ain't goin' to do you a bit of good."

"Isn't it, Mr. Javits? That's a bold accusation, and it'll take more than one scared boy and your blustering to prove it in court."

"Court? Who're you kiddin'? Even if your parents had the money to take it to court, they wouldn't dare stick their necks out that far. No doubt they're good Christian folk, who wouldn't go near a court in this land to defend you. Scandal's dangerous you know."

"Keep your venom and righteousness to yourself! You, you who can't even speak correct English, have the gall and the audacity to dare insinuate that I'm queer! You're the one who's queer, Mr. Javits!"

"Is that so? Is that so? We'll see about that!"

He picked up a stamp, inked it, and slammed it down on a sheet of in front of him, then held it up for me to see.

paper

"See there? See those big red letters? Now who's queer and who ain't? You're so smart. You know what they spell, eh? Homo . . . homosex. . . queer! That's what they spell! And that's what you are!"

It was clear that with these words my interview with Clayton Javits had ended. I knew from other sources that that was the way all interviews with Javits ended. To offer denials did the accused no good. The stamp was affixed no matter how he might answer. And whether also, he were to cooperate or refused to, it was all the same to the "Javits Committee."

Many people I have told my story to cannot believe it. Here, in the United States, they say? Yes, and it has happened to many others besides. And there will be many more to come unless the Javits Committee is stopped. But in order to stop this persecution homosexuals must refuse to be intimidated. Few persons as yet have appeared to have this type of courage. If Javits had a court suit filed against him for every one of his arbitrary accusations, such proceedings against the homosexual would soon stop. Most of this man's threats are based on hearsay information-not on concrete evidence of criminal acts. This state must be made to dismantle the monster it has created. At the time of my interview there were 63 other persons scheduled for hearings. They should all file counter suits against Javits and his committee. It is up to us to see that this intimidation and discrimination is stopped.

one

J. S.

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