"vile and unnatural"? Further. If God is so against homosexuality as you claim, how comes it that century after century homosexuals are born. and that some of the most shining stars in the human firmament have been homosexual? Without these great men and women the world in which we live today would indeed be a sad, drab place-less moral. Who doubts this knows neither religion. history, nor art.

Like other homosexuals who have self-respect and a natural pride, I am proud of being a human being, quite · as capable as any of my fellows of doing good work, to the extent of my individual abilities. In addition, I feel sure that my particular way of life has given me certain insights into human problems and character that most heterosexuals apparently lack.

Under the present social and cultural system the homosexual automatically finds himself a member of a world-wide freemasonry which cuts across educational and financial levels with utter impartiality. If Marxists were not so sociologically naive as they are they would have to admit that here exists the only truly classless so-

ciety. From this vantage point the homosexual discovers in himself a sympathy for the poor and oppressed of all kinds denied to all but the saints. Being utterly untouched by their interests and concerns he has an unerring eye for the follies and foibles of his heterosexual brothers and sisters. so unerring in fact that he often finds himself cast in the role of sympathetic adviser and çonfidant of husband. wife. child and parent. Indeed. it well may be that the only valid and objective consideration of marital problems must come from the homosexual. heterosexuals being too strongly biassed to evaluate themselves wisely.

The male homosexual is both relieved and glad to discover that, unlike the heterosexual who is forever seeking "completion" and fulfillment in his supposed opposite-a woman. he seeks his fulfillment in the very highest development of his own maleness. in love for another male. The lesbian also is relieved and glad not to have to attempt two readjustments of her selfhood. 1st. to some male; 2nd, to her children, "fruit of her womb," which, in most cases lead her

with fatal accuracy to the Curse of Eve. "in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children." She learns, and what a happy release it is, that it is possible for her to find fulfillment otherwise. to heighten her womanliness through love and sexual union with another

woman.

Do these concepts seem shocking. or startling? If so, the reader should prepare himself to continue being shocked, for ideas such as these are present today in the minds of many homosexuals. They will be expressing them more and more vigorously as time goes on. Their day is on the march. They are actively, resiliently proud of their homosexuality, glad for it. Society is going to have to accustom itself to many new pressures, new demands from the homosexual. A large and vigorous group of citizens, millions of them, are refusing to put up any longer with outworn shibboleths, contumely and social degradation.

Like the rest of my brothers and sisters I am glad to be a homosexual, proud of it. Let no one think we don't mean business. or intend to enforce our rights.

That we, too, might have the right to share

In the great love songs of the world. In the tender and passionate lines

Of Shakespeare, Shelley, Keats,

That we, too, might be acknowledged

As having something in common With Abelard and Heloise

With Romeo and Juliette

With Tristan and his Isolde,

That we, too, might be proud and

unashamed

To bring our love out into the sunshine

And proclaim to the world, "We love!

We love!"

And to proclaim to the world, “We love!”

Helen Ito

PROUD & UNASHAMED

WHEN WAS GAY PRIDE BORN?

in

The above appeared 16 years before the Stonewall Riot, the first issue of America's first open Gay magazine, ONE, Jan., 1953 and we like to feel that its appearance fanned the spark of Gay Pride even in the hearts of many never personally saw the magazine..

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