no humiliating accusations of sexual "stupidity" or "inadequacy." The new husband feared he might feel drawn into homophilic contacts on the side, but this has not been a problem so far in these past three years.
Of course, in many such marriages, temptation may be so strong that the husband sneaks out occasionally or regularly for homosexual satisfaction, with or without the knowledge of his wife. It takes a supremely understanding wife to tolerate this double sex life on the part of her husband. If the husband must continue this double life, it is better that his wife is shielded from the knowledge of it, to spare her the torture of such awareness. If he feels so guilty that he must reveal all the details of his extra-marital contacts to his wife, let his guilt motivate him to close off the homosexual side of his life, if at all possible, and learn to depend on sexual release in his wife's arms. This is not easy, but is rewarded by an improved marital relationship and greater self-respect on the part of the man.
Influences Toward Homosexual Development
No one is a homosexual "on purpose." Most homosexuals, at least secretly, would like to achieve normal heterosexual lives. Although some even brag about being homophiles, I doubt that anyone is a homosexual by choice or just to hurt or punish someone. I cannot agree with Dr. Albert Ellis when he says that homosexuality is a normal demonstrable component in everyone, and that it is abnormal to have had no homosexual experience of any kind. His statements contradict his own words that homosexuality is always a neurotic manifestation of character malformation. Nor can I agree with those homosexuals who claim, perhaps defensively, that homosexuality is just as normal as heterosexuality, even if not acceptable in many cultures. Because Kinsey pointed out the prevalence of homosexual behavior in American males, does not prove it "normal." Nor does the fact that many animals, such as monkeys in the zoo, show homophilic behavior "prove" that it is "normal." That which is prevalent and even perhaps helpful in some ways—such as the black market during the last World War-is not necessarily desirable and in the best interests of the majority. It is understandable, however, why a minority group attempts to defend its behavior. It is natural for all of us, no matter what we do for a living and no matter how we behave, to think up reasons to justify our acts. Robin Hood could rationalize that "robbing the rich to feed the poor" made robbery acceptable. When we are defensive about our own behavior, we all have a bit of the Robin Hood mixed into our thinking. The fact that the Greeks indulged in homosexual partnerships does not serve as a "proof" that homosexuality is "normal" and desirable as a way of life adjustment. Greek friends in Athens convince me that homosexuality is currently no more acceptable in Greece than in America. It did, apparently, mattachine REVIEW
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contribute to the disintegration of both the ancient Greek and Roman empires, as the facts of history indicate.
I believe there are few really happy homophiles, though many of them claim they are content as they are. I have always maintained that the homosexual marriage can never have the advantages of the heterosexual marriage. Heterosexual marriage is revered by society and the Word of God (as expressed through the Bible). Such a marriage never has to be concealed, and it offers the creative possibility of children. It is bound up in legal and spiritual sanctions which make it less apt to be easily disrupted.
Although the anonymous physician in "Every 'Tenth Man" (Lancet, 12-1259), claims that "seduction in childhood by older persons was not the cause" of homosexual development in his cases, this is one of several possible causes. But seduction does not have to be by an older, more experienced, person. In one strange case, some teen-agers formed a club and got permission to meet in a basement room of their church. The church personnel did not supervise the group, and so was unaware of its activities. An ex-patient of mine tells me that the boys would couple off in this clubroom for mutual masturbation. My patient actually believed-till this was clarified in analysis-that "intercourse" consisted of mutual masturbation, the woman having the same genital organs as the man. His parents, obviously, had been of no help in his sex education. Whether the other boys were equally naive is unknown, but certainly, as with this patient, ignorance can be a contributing factor to the development of a homophilic direction in life.
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As a teen-ager, the patient had rationalized that if "intercourse" was obtainable through another boy, why bother at all with girls! There is indication from his story that these boys were all somewhat shy, in part apparently the result of rigid, extremely orthodox, and repressive parents, and this might help to account for their withdrawal from normal social activities. What my patient did not realize till he married was that marital relations were a lot more exciting than mutual masturbation. Ignorance certainly is not bliss, and causes untold problems and remorse in the lives of many heterosexuals as well!
Because of their own self-doubts and guilt-feelings about the way they've brought up their children, parents can be unintentionally cruel. This was made very clear some years ago when the parents of a homosexual boy came to me in great anguish. Their teen-age son was doing this "dirty thing" to them, creating great embarrassment and shame. All they could talk about was what the problem did to them, not what it did to the suffering boy! There was a chance for me to help both the boy and his parents, but the parents refused help. They apparently came to get me to vindicate their prejudiced and hostile attitudes, exacerbated by their own guilt feelings.
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