No one at ONE claims perfection for its publications, and no one believes that the final answers to all homosexual questions are in ONE's possession, yet we do quite unblushingly feel that our publications are the best in the field, and that the knowledge of homosexuality we have acquired over the years is the most reliable to be found anywhere today.

The difficulty appears to be that homosexuals have been so conditioned by unremitting social pressures that they repudiate both themselves and their own institutions. From babyhood their parents have labored to make them heterosexual-anything else would be unthinkable, a disgrace most unforgivably shameful. If any have dared to entertain the thought of themselves as homosexual, their churches have railed at them, calling them vile sinners who violate the very nature of the universe and who are unworthy to invoke the name of God, short of abject renunciation of their viciousness. The medical and psychological professions have used more subtle forms of brainwashing. To homosexuals they have said, in tones patiently compassionate, "you are psychologically underprivileged, emotionally stunted, social misfits-let us help you to become real men and real women. You can, if you will but try."

As if this were not enough, society through its legal codes and official agencies rules that homosexuals are criminals, once they venture to put into action their inmost desires. Jail them, treat 'em rough, castrate them if need be, but if at all possible see to it that no homosexual shall be unpunished or ever permitted to go free.

Is it any wonder, then, that few homosexuals have been able to admit to themselves that they really are homosexual? Is it any wonder that the majority should turn away, perhaps with deep loathing, from an organization such as ONE that by its very existence and tone entirely repudiates what their families, their churches, and indeed all of society have been teaching them, and indeed, what they themselves secretly believe concerning homosexuality?

Reactions to ONE's program are, of course, varied. In some cases, there is the disgust of those who cannot bear the challenge it brings to their long-held prejudices and beliefs. In other cases there is laughter from those who, unwillinging perhaps to come to grips with disturbing questions about themselves, find ONE's views comic, or say that they do. Then there are those who profess pity for the alleged narrowness of an organization which insists on muddying the waters of society, a trouble-maker to no good purpose, they say. How dull! Poor, benighted people at ONE! Let us be on with the dance....

So it is that those on ONE's staff expect no great rush of new subscriptions from any particular promotion effort. No brave rallying to ONE's banner is looked for, come Monday morning. In fact the responses to Life's articles have been minimal. Only a tiny percentage of its readers have been moved to phone or write.

Does all this in any way justify a slackening of efforts? By no means. Instead, efforts must be increased and techniques improved. In short, somewhat like the Alice-in-Wonderland story, we must continue to run very fast in order to stay in the same place. For, out

5