away" in penitentiaries and hospitals for so many years. You see, I am one of the casualties of homosexual life. Before I even knew what it was all about, that gay life even existed, and that I could be homosexual and still lead an honorable life, I was arrested for sexual offenses with minors, and institutionalized.
When I am free at last, and get the Parole Board's permission, I want to come to Los Angeles, study ONE Institute's courses, learn all I can about ONE, Inc., and take some part in its work. Meanwhile, I hope your Social Service Division can help me to contact some sympathetic counselor in this area, who will act as an unofficial sponsor when I get out, and who will help me to make a stable and proper readjustment to society.
Mr. D.
THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT Dear Editors:
Pennsylvania
Thank you for your kind mention of Florida Mattachine in ONE Magazine. It is struggling hard, as you know, to establish itself as a real force in the community. Richard Inman has a giant task. Organized officialdom opposes MSF in ways which would astound you. Of course, MSF has some very good allies too-such as the A.C.L.U.-but the enclosed article from the Coral Gables Times is an example of the kind of dirty opposition I mean. It was printed, I believe, on Thanksgiving Day-on the front page of the paper. The "police record" referred to is not a criminal record-but rather the record of an automobile accident in which Richard was involved, and two arrests in gay bar raids. The mention of the "record," however, shows you how nasty the papers can be.
MSF is anxious to cooperate in a spirit of friendly assistance with ONE, Inc., and with other homophile organizations who-in good faith-are primarily devoted to improving the status of the homosexual. We value close contact with your office. Please do keep in close touch.
Dear Mr. Legg:
Warren D. Adkins
Mattachine Society of Florida Miami, Florida
Re: your letter from the Board of Directors, I appreciate knowing the most recent developments in the litigation between ONE and the "Cahuenga Group." What an expenditure of money and valuable energy and time has been caused by this dissension, when ONEness should be the order of the day. I am sending you a small contribution, for I know how desperately it is needed. I wish I lived in your area, so that I might offer my time and services in some of the time-consuming tasks that need performing.
Despite the fact that I have requested three times to have my name removed from
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the mailing list of TANGENTS (how appropriately it fits one of the definitions, "an abrupt change of course") I have received their recent MONTHLY REPORT, which I am enclosing herewith, having marked a section of interest to me. I would assume that much of ONE's Library last spring was taken by the dissenting group and remains in their possession, and thus I was delighted to know of your recent acquisition of nearly 300 new volumes. I have a few volumes of my own, mostly non-fiction, which I will mail to your librarian within the next week. Best regards to all.
Dear Sir:
Mr. S.
Utica, New York
As a Friend of ONE, you will find enclosed my membership dues for 1966. May I suggest that-during our present financial difficulties -all possible attention be paid to the quality of our Magazine (even at the expense of other publications and services), as services), as I feel this to be the foundation on which the Corporation stands!
Dear Sir:
Mr. T. Montreal, Canada
Poor Los Angeles! This past summer saw racial riots. Now there seems to be a rising tide of advocates for a series of rebellious acts which will go down in history as the "Homosexual Riots of Los Angeles."
I'm sure that the most recent rash of harrassments and closings of gay bars and arrests will not help the situation. I am afraid that the modern "FAGGOT" is a lot more masculine and disgusted than the "normal," every-day, "straight" person realizes.
Mr. M.
Los Angeles, California
TAKE CARE, YOU SQUARES Dear Mr. Menken:
Regarding your recent comments published in ONE (As For Me, Nov. '65), perhaps homosexuals should be grateful that you are casting a few crumbs our way, especially considering your willing admission of the courage it takes to do so. You certainly can afford to be brave-protected by such a formidable barrier of smugness and condescension.
In order to set the various issues in a better perspective, perhaps it should first be noted that one of the frequent and historic characteristics of heterosexuals is (to paraphrase your language) that they are driven by an overwhelming, compulsive hunger for sex with their opposite gender. This force is so powerful that it might be compared with that which causes a stranded traveller in the desert to seek water. They seek each other out in dimly lighted cocktail lounges, in parks, on streets, in hotel lobbies, in houses of