you,
.. those who are in one way or another different from the majority will find ... that President Johnson's "great society" is a more comfortable place than the moralistic, conformists and confining society envisaged by Senator Goldwater and many of his supporters." The handling of the Jenkins case by the two sides tends to support the views I expressed several weeks before. I enclose a check covering subscription and contribution.
Dear Mr. Slater:
Mr. H.
New York, N. Y.
From time to time things have appeared in ONE which I found reasonably irritating, but I usually forgot them or figured someone else would take the time to object, but I cannot let this latest thing go by, since a correction is essential to the readers (that is, as a service to them).
A. E. S., reviewing Leslie A. Fiedler's Waiting for the End, on page 24 of the November issue of ONE Magazine says:
"Who else on earth would ever have found a Lesbian section in an American novel written in the 1790's by Charles Brockden. Brown."
May I refer Mr. A. E. S. to the Checklist: Supplement, 1962 (a listing of homosexual literature with brief reviews, or annotated bibliography) published and edited by Marion Zimmer Bradley and myself. This appeared in print in early 1962 and thoroughly reviews Mr. Brown's novel, Ormond or the Secret Witness, printed by G. Forman for H. Caritat, 1799. I might add that the Lesbian content in Ormond has been mentioned in at least two other literary criticisms which pre-date Mr. Fiedler's book, since I found the title in this manner, myself.
Dear Mr. Slater:
Gene Damon Kansas City, Missouri
"The Moral Decision About Homosexuality," by Iris Murdoch, in your November issue, is rich and rewarding in its content and is most certainly MUST reading for all homosexuals AND heterosexuals.
In your editorial, you say "Jenkins was a homosexual. . ." It has always been my understanding that a man who was married, had children and occasionally engaged in a homosexual act, might be referred to as being "bi-sexual," rather than homosexual. Am I wrong?
Richard A. Inman
Atheneum Society of America, Inc. Miami, Florida
Dear ONE:
Okay fellas, what's that long-haired,
funny-chested critter doin on the September cover!
My interest is biology has been localized among the bacteria (and such) and only the most "gross" aspects of human anatomy. I am a little surprised that the Quarterly is spending much time on the biological aspects of homosexuality. Me thinks that the homophile community is the most heterogenous community in America. And secondly, biological determinants tend to be completely swamped by social factors in an urbanized society (i.e. the Negro community). The notion that homophiles reach puberty at an earlier age than heteros may have some validity (like in my case), but even this is a determinant wholly dependent on a social context. Lastly, in evolutionary theory survival of the fittest is only indirectly concerned with individual survival-reproduction is the goal of life rather than life the goal of reproduction. "A chicken is chicken is an egg's way of reproducing" to make a funny. In short, any biological determinant, any genetically ascribed character, which is at odds with reproduction, no matter it's affect on the individual, will disappear from the species.
One more thought, ONE may chuckle about the east coast homophile leadership (personally I wish little Randy Wicker would stay off Chicago tv) but also (methinks) we mid-westerners chuckle a bit over East and West coast politics.
Gentlemen:
Mr. O. Chicago
Acknowledging your last communications. with voting in its center, with grieved heart I'm to ask you today to remove my name from your mailing list.
I am old, live in a great Home for the Aged, expect hospitalization soon.
I have broken my subscription years ago. I felt hurt through your complete silence after I had sent you two short stories, asking your opinion, hardly a hope for publication. The receipt of them never has been acknowledged, several inquiries about them never brought me any answer.
My final request-However you think of them, please don't return them to me and let them be read by readers-remained unanswered.
If they have not been made ashes already, I permit myself to repeat the request with my melancholy taking leave.
With deep esteem for your work, its heads and its cooperators.
Mr. T-D New York, N. Y.