}

frustrations out of which their hostilities spring. He who does not honestly accept himself can hardly be expected to accept others as they

are. Even the overly homosexual

male who speaks with contempt for the more effeminate members of his group is projecting hatred for himself.

When poople learn to understand themselves and come to know others as individuals, their prejudices disappear. When we look beneath the surface of things to the whys of their existence, our self-knowledge, and understanding of others is richly enhanced. The individual is bom as a sexual being with the potential for development in the heterosexual or homosexual direction, or both in different degrees depending upon the personality forces acting upon the plastic sensitivity of the child's subconscious mind. Variations in psychosexuality exist as a matter of degree. Bisexuality in its varying gradational ratios is far more prevalent than complete sexual inversion.

•

Homosexuals constitute an invisible minority. They are loved by those who know them as individuals for themselves, but not necessarily as homosexuals. Through fear of ostracism homosexuals themselves have helped maintain the aura, of prejudice surrounding them, prejudice which can be alleviated by those who believe in the, philosophy of truth. If in fantasy we can imagine all homosexual men and women, including those of conscious bisexual orientation, proclaiming to the world who they are and WHY, we can envision a large part of the homosexual problem being quickly solved. To the astonished but historically adap*tive masses the homosexual population would be found to include persons within their most intimate”associations, and others of public influence and prestige. Stereotyped

··

•

concepts. would be no more.

Obviously such a miracle of homosexual revelation en masse is not going to take place. But the idea does point the way toward a personal program of social enlightenment and

integration—that of the homosexual confiding in selected favorite friends. It is a spurce of security for the homo-· sexual to know that if people really like him they are going to continue to like him regardless of his homosexual nature. Also, when confronted with the usual condemnatory remarks, enlightened non-homosexuals will speak constructively in defense of the homosexual variant.

It is unfortunate that through fear so many people are restrained from natural communication with one another. They are therefore blocked from discussing their problems together. There is often a lack of honest communication even between people who are in love, including some' husbands and wives. This is usually true in cases where one or both partners have a strong homosexual component in their psychic makeup. Because the individual is motivated , largely from the unconscious feeling level of his being rather than from his intellect, it is even more important that he be able to talk freely about his feelings with others. Such mutual sharing of personal problems

mattachine REVIEW

is a deeply enriching experience and. practical psychotherapy. It brings release from fear and a closer bond of friendship is established where before there was a separating distance of the unknown.

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While society has been not only anti-homosexual but rather pre-eminently anti-sex, it is little wonder that attitudes change so slowly regarding any form of deviation from the status quo, Deep ARE the roots of prejudice which would make men slaves. In a democratic society when. the minds of men are free, unique-

ness and individualism can be signs of both personal and social health. But in totalitarian thought rigid.con formity is the order of the day. The power of authoritarian personality is well to be feared as a dangerous threat to personal peace' and to democratic civilization. But for the authoritarian himself we need compassion for the agony he suffers alone. Our task is to build a new world in which each, individual is cherished to live in dignity with self-esteem and free-

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EVERÝ ISSUE of the Mattachine REVIEW will contain--A *5 Lead Articles Book Reviews Quotes of significance

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dom from fear. Mankind is moving more assuredly, now toward understanding of his sexual nature. As the dark curtain of taboo is lifted from the sexual sphere, many unconscious conflicts are being resolved and mental and social health improved. More FOUR MORE ISSUES people are coming to be accepted WILL APPEAR THIS as individuals and will ultimately achieve mutually creative fulfillment YEAR...and monthly in an atmosphere of good will in our publication' is

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common world.

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The greatest thing about man is his ability to transcend himself, his ancestry, and his environment and to become what he dreams of be-

ing.

-Tully C. Knoles

planned for 1956

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