The

3rd

Choice

For the last decade it has been the fashion (particularly in analytic circles) to regard homosexuality as a form of play. a frivolous, immature or experimental manifestation. an avoidance of adult responsibility. This school of thought posits heterosexual marriage at the opposite pole as the example of the assumption of adult responsibility. Heterosexual marriage, they say, is a serious relationship involving the care for a family and the creation of a home, with a (more or less) stable life in common. At first glance. there would seem to be much truth in this attitude. Throughout the

The opinions expressed in "The Third Choice" are not to be construed as necessarily representing the views of the editors, but merely one opinion on a many-sided problem.

centuries marriage has, despite flagrant failures, achieved an aura of great respectability and mystical sanction.

Despite certain remarks made in your magazine* by a writer E. B. Saunders, the marriage relation has nothing to fear from a more open acceptance of homosexuality and is in no need whatever of being "protected." History and psychology demonstrate that the world is large enough to accommodate the most extraordinarily diverse, delicate, kaleidoscopic relationships.

Most of the difficulties raised by Saunders would be resolved if, instead of dichotomizing heterosexual and futuristic homosexual marriage, he would train his concern on the need for establishing good lasting personal relationship of any sort. The art of strong relationships is difficult, requiring as it does much compassion, love-management and patience. Wherever a good lasting relationship occurs (whether between members of the same or different sexes) one should give thanks. The legalization and widespread acceptance of homosexuality (as projected by E. B. Saunders into the year 2053) would not necessarily create more such relationships.

Today the marriage relationship has attained, it is true. legal status and impressiveness but, if we look into the dawn of history, we will see that the origins of this relationship were savage, questionable and ambiguous.

At the present time homosexuality, as a recognizable set-up, possesses more dignity and stature than did the marriage relationship in its dark beginnings but we must grant, I think, that homosexual-togetherness is still partly unformed. still furtive, still controversial.

*the August issue

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