geles. This would enable you to write more worthwhile and factually true articles.
BACK IN U.S. Dear ONE:
Mr. P. London, England
After viewing a special TV program on Channel 11 here, "Every Tenth Man," on the subject of homosexuality we now realize that there is someone on our side. We are interested in working for equality for homosexuals. Please send us the necessary information. Mr. S.
Dear sirs:
Wilmette, Illinois
A rather sizeable group of people here would like information about ONE, Incorporated. Until quite recently most of us were unaware that you folks existed. Then, quite by accident, we acquired several back issues of both your monthly magazine and your quarterly journal. Needless to say, we were much surprised and the interest is very keen.
I would especially appreciate any material that you may offer pertinent to your medical division. Fortunately for the homophiles in our area we have very little trouble obtaining medical help. This is not, of course, to say that we are not bothered by VD, at least to whatever extent could be considered average. I honestly cannot recall even one occasion when anyone has had trouble as a result of consulting local doctors or our Public Health officials concerning VD problems.
As a member of the medical profession I should like to go on record as saying that the theory of homophiles being more subject to VD than are others is absolutely a lot of ROT! As a matter of fact, it has always been my experience that they are much less subject. Mr. D. Clinton, Tennessee
Sirs:
I understand that there exists an organization known as the International Committee for Sexual Equality and that you are affiliated with this organization.
I would like to know your opinion on whether prostitution should be permitted or not; do you think that prostitution is immoral? What do you think of the new penal code recommendations in Illinois and New York that the prostitute's customer, as well as the prostitute, is guilty of violating the law? Mr. C.
EDITOR'S. REPLY:
Brooklyn, New York
The book from which you seem to have gathered the supposed affiliation of ONE with the International Committee for Sexual Equality was a grossly careless and misleading publication. The facts are that some years ago such an organization was established in Amsterdam, Holland to try to achieve an interchange of information between the
30
various homophile groups in existence in Europe at that time.
ONE did have some correspondence with the I.C.S.E. and received a number of the publications which the organization published. We have noted that during recent years the group has become less and less active and has issued few publications. It seems to be more or less dormant.
Dear ONE:
LIFE Magazine is not your friend; its June 11 issue practically says as much. From it you will notice that the church will or could drive your publication and others into hiding, or might try to.
Dear ONE:
Mr. W.
Santa Monica, California
I have really enjoyed the magazines and reports that you have sent me and do wish that I lived in California so that I could attend your lectures and other meetings. I hope that your organization continues to enlighten people and to enlarge itself-l have a few members for you.
Miss J. Chicago, Illinois PERSONS, AND THEIR PROBLEMS Sirs:
You drive me crazy you're so perfect, so understanding-so damn perfect. I'm sixteen and it looks like I don't know how to write a decent letter yet. Well, I'm non-conformist, so what? Yup, I'm a queer, a fairy, a pansy, or whatever. Of course I've been to a head man. He just sat there and made like Harpo Marx. You know, coolin' his chops, treating me like a crumb-crusher. So I told him all about my hard wrinkle. I just sat on his nail bed and opened my messy attic at him. I was really torn up. And for all that bread. it didn't do me a damn bit of good.
I spent the past year in a seminary five hundred miles from nowheresville. So upon returning after summer vacation I did the only natural thing: after two weeks I went and had myself a quiet nervous breakdown. And then I went and let out the whole story, | partially because I was hooked on this blue-eyed blonde guy in my class. I mean, like every time he brushed against me it was somethin' else and I couldn't tell him. Even now I couldn't. I knew he was straight and would have hated me. So I was quietly eliminated from the seminary.
I haven't had sex since I was ten and believe me that's a long time-six years, when you're sixteen years old feeling like some kind of freak or monster or something.
I'm the real odd type-like Shakespeare, opera and ballet, you know. What kind of a teen-ager am I anyhow actually, reading Shakespeare for pleasure when I don't have to and buying classical records when I should detest them? What am I going to do? I've