EDITORIAL

The 4th of July is when Americans celebrate because they love their country and are proud of it and proud of being Americans.

This deep feeling and this celebration do not depend on being rich or middle-class or poor-nor on skin color nor religion nor lefthandedness-nor on sexuality. Patriotism is not reserved for the non-deviant.

I know that the press of our times has made much of "homosexual traitors." This insinuates that an American homosexual has less reason to be, and is not, as patriotic as a heterosexual.

But I know that this is not true. I know this is only journalistic sophistry and part of the stigma coming from being a minority with a handy tag. I know that proportionately there are no more homosexual American traitors than there are heterosexual. Nobody remarks that Benedict Arnold was a heterosexual.

I, like many other American homosexuals, fought in World War II. My patriotism at that time had nothing whatever to do with my homosexuality. But, perhaps paradoxically, my patriotism now certainly does have something to do with my homosexuality. Because after working for ten years in the homophile movement in the United States, my feeling of pride at being an American, my feeling of having been just plain damn lucky to have been born and raised in this country, my admiration for the way things are done in my country compared to others-all these feelings of mine have increased tenfold. Perhaps my "homosexual Americanism" is laughable to some, but never mind. For I have learned and seen things I think just plain wonderful. I know that only in America is a clearly labeled homosexual magazine sold openly on newsstands. I have seen that magazine fight for its existence all the way up to the highest court of my land-and win!-and I doubt that in other countries such a legal action would ever even dare to be filed. While others still merely whimper in a wake for the Wolfenden Report, I have seen already one state of my country quietly, efficiently, pass sane laws for adult homosexuals-laws that homosexuals in England and other countries would give their eyeteeth for.

Sure, things aren't perfect here. But those to whom the homosexual grass looks greener in foreign countries are, I believe, merely colorblind tourists. For I have learned that the American system for justice and freedom of speech is not world-famed for nothing. They are not just words. Because I am an American homosexual I can work and contribute and write openly toward proving that homosexuals are just as honorable and moral-and patriotic-as heterosexuals.

I believe we shouldn't spend all our time screaming about remaining injustices but should occasionally take stock of positive values. And being an American is certainly one to me.

K. O. Neal Associate Editor

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