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1
As most readers of this report know, the Society's former legal chapter in Los Angeles resigned en masse more than a year ago, and ultimately became the now active National Assoc iation for Sex Research. Mutual assistance and cooperation between Mattachine and NASR exists today on a high level.
B
In San Francisco and Los Angeles, a great many persons hav been referred to legal counsel in the past year. One particui case of note is that of a raid which was made in a bar in one of San Francisco's neighboring towns this spring. (For a repo on this see the June 1956 issue of ?attachine Review.) Some g persons were arrested in this raid under the California Vag-L law. The violation of civil rights was apparent. The America Civil Liberties Union took an active interest in the case and will act to obtain a clearer definition of vag-lewd as a crim in order that continued discrimination and violation of civil rights may be abolished. It has already instituted an appeal to prove the statute unconstitutional.
·
Every person who values his civil rights should support the American Civil Liberties Union by becoming a contributing mem ber of that organization. Information may be obtained by writ ing to the Mattachine Society. Inquiries will be forwarded to the nearest chapter of ACLU. (It should be pointed out that ne endorsement of Mattachine has been voiced by ACLU in any official manner.)
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The Mattachine Society shall continue to keep close watch for any and all cases of discrimination and wilful misinterpre tation and misapplication of law which affects the rights of any American citizen, particularly in the sex sphere.
Since the beginning of Mattachine Review, a number of articles on various aspects of law and its application to the homosexual have been published. In the near future, a ser ies of studies of the law in various foreign countries, writte by Mack Fingal, will be printed in the magazine.
A new legal-legislative policy has been submitted to the Convention for approval. It recognizes the fact that an organizationsuch as the Mattachine Society cannot be a lobbying group intent upon guiding legislation and still be a nonprofit educational and research organization as set forth in its corporate charter.
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mattachino REVIEW
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7
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Program
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THIRD ANNUAL CONVENTION
of the
Mattachine Society, Inc.
Theme: SURVEY OF THE HOMOPHILIC PROBLEM, 1956
May 11 13, 1956
HOTEL BELLEVUE
Geary & Taylor Streets
ני
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
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