MODERATOR: Do you think it might possibly be connected with the fact that any minority group tends to attempt to excel simply because there is pressure around them? I think that is detectable in other minority groups, that an individual who feels that society is hostile immediately, in every field, tries to refute this hostility, by perhaps giving additional effort and time and concentration to somehow announcing his own integrity and his own ability. Would you think that had any relevance to this part of the discussion?

MRS. GAILEY: I think that is very true in regards to the homosexuals and their jobs. The fear of detection is always there, so they make an utmost effort to do their best, so they won't be fred. Another point in regard to what Hal said, the fact that homosexuals do not have the responsibilities of families frees them to develop whatever creative talents they have as they have so much more time. I'm inclined to agree with him from my own observations, which of course are limited, that the average homosexual would be pretty much the average heterosexual in regard to creative ability. In the Society, the ones I have observed, I think are perhaps the cream of the crop because they have intelligence enough to join the Society and try to get help and to help others. On the other hand all you have to do is walk around town and into certain bars and see the "screaming meemies" which are the ones by which the public judges homosexuals because they are so obvious. The average homosexual you cannot recognize, that is the heterosexual can't. But they do work under that fear all the time, of being detected, and therefore can't give their best, but they try to give their best.

MODERATOR: Has anyone else a comment on that particular subject? MR. CALL: Except to underscore perhaps what Mrs. Gailey said about the minority within the minority which is so readily recognized. That is one of the things we have to contend with in our organizational work in this field. We hear so many homosexuals who urge us to please preach that the flamboyant individual should not show off and shouldn't be obvious so that he receives the ridicule and scorn of his fellowman. Well, that would be a good thing if we could teach all of the homosexuals and eliminate these particular mannerisms which are not regarded as very pleasant. However, we feel that there is a more basic problem to get at, that will in the long run, if it can be solved, take care of this. That is to educate the public so that its attitude toward these people who are displaying these mannerisms will be changed. Then the mannerisms will no longer be of any significance and whether they are recognized or not, it won't amount to anything.

MODERATOR: Well, would you think that perhaps the social pressure has created the mannerisms, in the sense that a person who knows what they are doing is unpopular will sometimes overdo it in a sort of reflex action, to say,

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to put it bluntly, "To hell with the outside world." Isn't this a gesture of defiance, and of great hostility within the person?

MR. CALL: That is very true, because of lack of acceptance. MODERATOR: Dr. Baker, have you something?

DR. BAKER: Yes, I have been particularly interested in this exaggerated behavior as a hostility 'reaction. That is one of the manifestations of the neurotic homosexual. Now we have many, many grades of homosexuals: many of them are fully adjusted; they never see a psychiatrist; most people don't know they have their problems; they may be living their own private lives in dignity and quietness. But there are those others who react violently to the world and show it, they are the ones who have the limp wrists and the screaming voices, and are called by various names. Now, I'd like to read, with your permission, a few words which covers this very point:

"Not all homosexuals are 'gay'. That term is applied especially to those who are just 'coming out' or acknowledging their membership in a minority group. It seems that they wish to submerge themselves in a herd in which they adopt a common jargon like teen agers' 'bop' and 'jive' talk, thus allaying some of their fears. Since they have little awareness of their own individuality or originality and are lacking in self-confidence and self-acceptance, they gain a shallow identification with a group and find a welcome outlet for their resentment and hostilities toward the parent or parents who failed to understand them. Thus 'gays' may be considered homosexuals in adolescent rebellion. Much cruising is a search for the other self, a companion who can understand-not just sex-and much of their phrenetic love-making is a compulsive drive to find their elusive ego-ideal, which has generally been damaged by the same sex parent, while they have identified with the opposite sexed parent, but with resentment." (From Gay 3ar by Helen P. Branson, p. 9 of the introduction written by Dr. Baker)

MODERATOR: Well, the closing words there would certainly point in the direction of the fact that you feel that some homosexuals are suffering from a certain amount of mal-adjustment...

DR. BAKER: Oh, yes, I agree with that.

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MODERA TOR: which has brought them into that category, in other words, people who might, under an optimum environmental set-up have developed into heterosexuals.