Taking the psychological circumstances of background and upbringing and adding them to the fascination of something which in the eyes of society conforms not even to nature itself and you have very powerful forces at work. Then there is the idea that homosexuality is a never-ending

life of excitement, gaiety and pleasure. This is true to a small degree. In the first place, it is the gay life. Gaiety displays itself most vividly at homosexual parties. Few know how to "live it up" as do homosexuals. They usually spare no expense in their gaietywitness the "theme" parties at Cherry Grove where invitations are issued to anyone who happens to pass by. The only stipulation is that the guest wear something appropriate to the theme something yellow

or a la Cleopatra, etc.

Much of the merriment is superficial of course, giving the impression that most homosexuals need to be constantly surrounded by their compatriots. The partying, however, probably has a beneficial effect-a chance after work hours to put away the mask and forget about the usual public facade. That is why such a place as "Eugene's" is so popular. After five the worker comes to the bar for a few drinks and some conversation with the friends he has made on previous occasions. This is rarely followed by a visit to one or the other's apartment. For most, daily affairs are out of the question. For many, the companionship at the bar is enough.

Many psychiatrists today feel that adjustment to one's homosexual condition rather than a radical attempt at cure (if such a thing is possible at all) is the most effective answer to the problem. The number of socalled "cured" homosexuals is reputedly quite small. This may may be due to the fact, as we have stated

before, that in psychoanalysis one must want to change to be helped. Apparently not many want to give up their desire. Perhaps for some it would mean the surrender of nonconformity. "I like being different. I like the fact that I am odd and I don't give a damn what other people say about it," proclaims one satisfied invert. If this be the thought of many homosexuals there should be no doubt that further legal restrictions on homosexual inversion will only add to its appeal of nonconformity and rebellion. Attempts in England to do away with legal clamps on sexual relations between two consenting males are partially based on this premise.

If we in America are not yet ready for such a legal relaxation on homosexuality, with the exception of the State of Illinois, we most certainly should be ready for a more realistic understanding of the subject. In the first place it should be rather obvious that homosexuality and femininity have little or nothing to do with one another. Because a boy or man is "sissified" does not in the least brand him as a pervert. We have seen how just the opposite appeal is the one to be admired and cultivated by homosexuals. We have also noted in our brief look at "other" homosexuals how they not only contradict society's conceptions" but also how varied their individual personalities can be. There is no such thing as a "typical" homosexual. Surely the time has come for us to bury once and for all the notion that all homosexuals criminals, child-killers, degenerates -to be locked up for the protection of "normal" society. After all, we of the "normal" world have all shared in the homosexual's conditionsome of us as parents are partially if not totally responsible for our son's being "queer." Some of

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