hell, just to stick with his partner-well, there were names for it, and even now Tommy couldn't take them. He took Stella's paper of needles, sorting them for her absent-mindedly, trying to concentrate on what he was doing. Much later, in their own room, Mario said wistfully "Damn it, Tom-Angelo brought me up! Can you blame me?"

"Who's blaming anybody?" Tommy added, firmly snapping out the light, "I can't take your falls for you, Mario. There's just one way you could have Angelo back on the old terms. You said we can't break up. But if we did, within a week or so Angelo would be just like always to you-until you got yourself another boy. Angelo isn't low enough to say, choose between Tommy and the family. And he'd go away like Judas and hang himself before he'd say, choose between Tommy and me."

"You aren't trying to say-"

Tommy drew a long breath. No, that he could never say. Angelo himself would rather have died than admit it, even to himself. The thread of jealousy there was so subtle, so overlaid with illusion, that the most perceptive eyes would miss it.

But he, Tommy, was in Angelo's place. Catcher for the Flying Santellis; the fixed point for Mario's brilliance and showy flight. He was a truer Santelli, now, then Angelo; and in Angelo moral indignation had been so entangled with an unacknowledged thread of envy that Lucia's awareness had, in all innocence, forced the admission fairly into the open; ar as near to the open as it could ever be.

Tommy said hastily "No, no, you've got me all wrong. Angelo's just saying; you can be yourself, or you can have the family. You can be gay-or you can be their good boy and they'll all love you."

Mario suddenly laughed into the darkness. "To coin a phrase," he said, "we made our bed and we'll damn well have to lie in it."

"Well," Tommy said softly, "I can remember a time when we'd have settled for that."

"Yeah, some people are never satisfied," Mario said. And somewhere in the house around them, the past and the future clasped hands. There were more ways than one to join a family; and the knowledge that no compromise had been made suddenly seemed a giant step, bridging the past with the solid future. ☐

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mattachine REVIEW

READERS write

Letters from readers are solicited for publication in this regular montbly department. They should be short and all must be signed by the writer. Only initials of the writer and the state or country of residence will be published. Opinion expressed in published letters need not necessarily reflect that of the REVIEW or the Mattachine Society. No names of individuals will be exchanged for correspondence purposes.put

REVIEW EDITOR: Would you be good and homosexual himself sometimes in official let (here was given the name, number and clothing. Frightened of his own homosexprison address of a young man) know ifthere uality, he expresses it hegatively—sadist is an attorney in Minnesota that he can tum Ically, if you will. He becomes dedicated, to in bringing his case to the Minnesota Suso to say, to stamping it out; and as a subpreme Court? He was advised to get in touch stitute for the sexual pleasures denied him, with an attorney in Minneapolis (for his trial he "gets his kicks" by inflicting, and seeon a presumed sex offense and complicity ing inflicted upon homosexuals, punishment, In a bad check matter), and even the judge or even torture. In truth, he is allied with sald (to this attomey), "you sentenced your the outright thugs who mutilate them in dark own client." The attomey demanded $1500. alleys and parks; and is frequently a graI was able to mortgage my home for more uate of the same "gang"; the difference than it already had on it, and borrowed all being that he uses the law as his chief Inthat was possible on my life insurance. I strument. Ironically enough, the same Inpaid him $1000 as he demanded before the dividual is sometimes a secretly practicing trial. I was—and told him so before the trial homosexual himself. He carries a heavy bur -unable to raise the additional $500. But den.

he took the case for $1000. In every way Such a person will interpret any defense his defense did not come to my son's favor. of the homosexual as, "obscenity," and There was a 30-day (sentence) and probaeven men of good will fall in with him, for tion given him, which for reasons of his fear of being labeled homosexual themselves. school age. (I did not know at the time he It is natural that such a person will seek was framed by police) I got help at the time out a station in life which will facilitate (and hoped there would be no publicity.) It the practice of his strange mission, and it seems that because of (untrue statements) is unfortunate for justice that so few preIn juvenal records he got a heavier sentence cautions are taken to understand them for than for the man who was with him-(the what they are.-Mr. L. C., New York. latter) being the one who signed the (bad EDITOR'S NOTE: Many of the great psycheck) and passed it. He got probation only

REVIEW EDITOR: There is a desperate need for Mattachine in Detroit, with more and more homosexuals "coming out" every day and the Increase in prejudice against them.-Mr. B. B., Michigan.

(but my son) got (a heavier penalty). He chologists agree with you. This is one ashas tried to file his own case...but there pect of what Wilhelm Stekel terms. The Hohas not been appointed an attomey for him. mosexual Neurosis. He feels he needs help. I am already retired, unable to get work at present, as only a year ago I lost use of my right arm. But I will try again to get work and hold onto the home I built, and put my son through college. I believe in justice, but it should help those that need help, and we need it now. REVIEW EDITOR: I am forwarding under His mother, Mrs. H. P., Minnesota. separate cover a collection of books relat EDITOR'S NOTE: While considerable editing to sexual matters from my library. These Ing was necessary, we hope the above is include Sexual Relations of Mankind by the essence of this mother's letter. Does Montegazza, The Satyricon, and many others. I enjoy reading and receiving the REVIEW any reader know of an attorney in Minnesota who would be interested in looking into this each month and wishing you lots of success in this endeavor.-Mr. H. B., Dist. of Col. EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanks for the gift of books, a valued addition to the library. This library, incidentally, is being used by an increasing number of professional people, graduate students, educators and laymen who wish to learn more about the subject. 27

matter.

REVIEW EDITOR: Thirteen years of living and associating with homosexuals in New York City have confirmed my opinion that the enemy. of the homosexual, when uncovered, is very likely to be the "suppressed"