held the knife at his throat would actually cut him. Then he resigned himself to the attack upon his person.

It took the boy three days to calm himself after this incident and it had a terrible effect on his nervous system and his outlook. Who can say what the effects might have been if the attempt had been successful? This incident is neither fantastic nordramatic, nor is it an isolated case. It happens often. The victim has recourse He can report the occurrence to the proper authority who may or may not be interested. In any event, when he makes such a reporthe has branded himself with the well familiar mark of the informer. Any prison psychologist know's the stupidly placed importance of such a brand. The possible consequences of being branded an informer are quite clear to anyone who has ever seen a third-rate prison film.

If the homosexual enters prison merely because he is homosexual, then his "crime" is communal know-

ledge within two hours after he has walked into the maze of men who are to be his world for the duration of his term. If he escapes physical molestation then he must certainly suffer ceaseless taunts and frustrating insults that he must leave unanswered if he intends to an exemplary conduct record which will be all important towards his obtaining a parole. Not even the highly courageous and the physically strong' homosexual can escape being permanently affected by this treatment. Unless he is a mental giant, he will be indeed fortunate if ne does not carry some of the scars of his prison term with him to the grave.

Since this is the recognized and accepted manner of dealing with homosexuals in prison by their ellow inmates, then it is no wonder that even the inmate who in scme manner escaped the bigotry that usually accompanies the heterosexual's thought in connection with homosexuality will soon find himself.

too entrapped in the same fallacies and ignorance that typify the average man's view toward homosexuality.

The disinterested might possibly dismiss such a discussion by saying "Yes, I suppose it is true and it really is too bad." He has hit the proverbial nail only partly on the head for not only is it too bad but it is tragic too, for none of this need happen! Many men must be permanently scarred emotionally because state authorities stubbornly refuse to admit that homosexuality should not be regarded as a crime and that the homosexual should not be imprisoned with criminals.

The author fervently hopes that the day will soon come when here in America homosexuals will enjoy the same freedom and rightful recognition they now enjoy in Switzerland. However, until such legislation can be introduced and put into eifect, there are other measures which can be taken. California has built a prison that houses only inmates who have been committed for crimes of a sexual nature. They receive

psychiatric treatment and their problems are met with understanding and kindness. Great progress has been made by California. If the inmate leaves prison-probably not as a heterosexual but-as a homosexual who understands himself a bit better and can live with himself in peace, then California has done a tremendous service to society. This, however, is only one prison and there are not more than two others like it. Compare such an institution with the brutal prison camps that dot many of the Southern states where, once committed, the homosexual must live out his sentence without one friend to whom he can turn in his desolation, not one person to whom he can appeal for justice against the wrongs he suffers. He may have only horror, humiliation and utter despair stretching out before him in an endless abyss. Only the very strong will escape such a bath of fire and return to society with any semblance of mental health and confidence in his future.

None of this need happen, but it does and it will continue to happen until we become a civilized people.

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