sex

JUSTICE WEEKLY from Toronto,

publishes a report on Sir John Wolfenden...

COURTS TO BLAME

Sir John Wolfenden said in an Interview at Vancouver, B.C., he is not going to have anything more to do with at least not officially. "I became the butt of all the obvious music hall jokes," he complained good-naturedly. "I wouldn't want to do it again. I've done my whack."

Sir John was chairman of a commission which made a three-year investigation into homosexual offences and prostitution in Britain. The committee of eminent lawyers, doctors, clerics and peers caused an uproar when it recommended that homosexuality between consenting adults should not be a criminal offence.

The government dropped the hot potato, but did enact the committee's recommendation regarding prostitutes, increasing the fine tenfold, and establishing fail terms for repeated offenders. Sir John, 53 years old, vice-chancellor of Reading University, at UBC to start a cross-Canada speaking tour, defended all the committee's findings in an Interview at the University of B.C. Faculty Club.

The slim, tweedy, pipe-smoking professor said he found in a recent personal tour that the new laws had completely cleared prostitutes off the streets of London. "That is what we set out to do to preserve public order and decency and safeguard those who need protection," he said. "We're not so naive as to think or say that we could abolish prostitution."

Sir John said that in regard to the recommendation on homosexuality he felt it was a basic principle of criminal law to deal with public order not private behavior. "You can't legislate for morality," he said.

Here "Justice Weekly" wishes to point out that the Canadian Criminal Code has harsher provisions to deal with prostitution but it continues to flourish in Toronto as never before. For which the courts are to blame, as so often pointed out in these columns.

mattachine REVIEW

Calling

Shots

HOW CAN WE REACH

TEEN-AGERS 'COMING OUT?

Long a concern of the REVIEW staff, and of the Mattachine Society as well, is how to reach the younger homosexual with understanding coun-

sel about his orientation-when it will do him the most good. Many of us have felt that understanding and acceptance are most important in the early or middle teens, and if provided in the proper context would erase the feelings of rejection which may so often cause the affected individual to later blossom into one of the typical "swishy fairy" types.

Below are two letters from the Tacoma (Wash) News-Tribune. The first is from a youth of 15. The second is a reply from an understanding adult. We thought you'd like to read themand maybe come up with an answer as to how someone can provide adequate sex education and adult understanding of these young people without being laid open for the bigoted accusation of contributing to their delinquency...

SAYS CHAŃCE NEEDED

To the Editor: I express my hope that most of the people of Tacoma and other cities will understand more of the problems of .the people I'm writing about,

after they read this; and will honestly endeavor to help them and their situation.

It has appeared to me that the average citizen of our fair city does not notice the serious problem of homosexuality in our midst. But still we must not pass up the fact that this serious illness still exists.

I really believe that through proper rehabilitation courses and more understanding on the public's part, this poorly understood mental disorder could be helped immensely!

After all, isn't it true that when a person can't meet the social standards we set up, that they are bound to go off into a belief and world of their own? I fully feel this is true.

All these people need is a chance or maybe two, to fit in. The average. homosexual is usually more than willing to make clean, honest friends, but does not know always how to go about it.

Why don't we, the people of Tacoma, and all the other towns and cities, try to show them the way? They aren't really so bad, no one is. All they need is someone to believe in them and that they can faithfully turn too. How about it? ROBERT MCINTYRE JR., AGE 15

PRICE OF PREJUDICE To the Editor: You are to be applauded for the publishing of the letter by the 15-year-old Robert McIntyre Jr., on the subject of homosexuality in the Jan. 9 paper. Such as this, it is hoped, is evidence of a growth of the philanthropic attitude in our society. A concern and appreciation of the homosexual and his problem in society is certainly needed to replace the acceptance of the traditional taboos of hostility, condemnation, and prejudice.

There are a great many homosexuals for whom aid generally cannot be more than an adjustment toward self-understanding and self-acceptance. These people can and must be helped to find their place as productive citizens in the community. There presently exist serious organizations to aid homosexuals in this way, and to advance education and enlightenment of the general public toward removal of antiquated beliefs and attitudes regarding, the sexual variant. Prejudice and discrimination