and they have been friends ever since. These friends will meet almost every evening somewhere in the Square or on their rounds. And they will do almost anything for each other until they fight over the same man. As outcast among outcasts, queens have a strong tie that binds them together. They honor this attachment more than homosexuals of any other type of adjustment. I know of more than one queen who has risked self-incrimination to help her friend. You don't find this same kind of loyalty among other homosexuals who believe that their lives depend on camouflage.

"I prostituted myself from the time when I first discovered that men would keep me. Of course, I never had the grand wedding that I told John Rechy about. The idea came to me one night. So I made up the story because I thought how nice it was. I have had my marriages, but never anything so fabulous. I have had, on the other hand, as many as 20 tricks in one night. My favorite corner for pick-ups was the south east corner of 4th and Broadway. During the latter 1950's sex became almost my whole life. All the time I was stepping out, I was usually being kept by one man. Many queens will tell you that they score financially every time. It isn't true. I know. You do a hundred for love and one for money. Most of us would like to eventually settle down and make a home for ourselves; but somehow it never seems to happen.

"One thing I know for sure: I will never give up drag even at 50, if for no other reason than that it upsets the neighbors. And believe me, nosey neighbors and other busybodies have hurt me terribly many times. Outraging this sort may be my innocent way of getting even. But through the chain of painful experiences, I have learned how to understand impatience, unkindness, dishon-

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esty, cruelty, and, of course, prejudice. It doesn't always help me to understand, but I at least know what is going on. I always try to keep my relationships with other people

simple. I do the same for my reactions to others. I want to love people and be loved in return. Love, to me, is supreme. It is the only thing I know that brings me happiness. A lot of people don't understand me; what can I do about it? I found out long ago that we are what we are largely because of our own efforts. I don't expect to change anybody by my words. And no one will likely change my private psychology by what they say or do. I have no experience for what people tell me. I conclude from this that we should never come between a man and his beliefs.

"The future of the homosexual lies in some kind of unity. We don't seem to be able to band together. We could start by stopping to hate the types that we are not comfortable with. After all, how can any homosexual afford to be intolerant? All adjustments that hurt no one else ought to be accepted and understood at least by homosexuals.

Coming next month "The Myth of the 'Homosexual Vote''

plus fiction by Bob Waltrip

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