psychiatrists differ even as to the origin of the problem. Only recently I received a note from a celebrated psychiatrist, observing: "Psychiatry and psychoanalysis have made only minimal contributions to this field. I would not be too impressed with any comments concerning how deep this book is." Taboos against open discussions of the homosexual problem are as strong and abiding as ever. Without exception, radio and television stations in this area have shunned any discussion of The Sixth Man, even though their own ranks are liberally represented in the book. However, I have a feeling that progress is being made in the field of enlightened discussion in informal groups, by the very fact that my book has been generally well-received by non-homosexuals. For the first time perhaps, many are becoming aware of the nature of the problem and its extent, and recognizing that a problem does not disappear just because it is ignored. It is the primary function of the reporter, of course, to transmit the nature of that problem to the public.

READERS write

Letters from readers are solicited for publication in this regular monthly 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.

REVIEW EDITOR: Please send me information regarding your joumals, such as dally, weekly, monthly, etc. publications, and price. Our Florida State Board of Health Venereal Disease Control Program is in terested in having our venereal disease Interviewer-investigators having a better understanding of the problems of the homosexual and their relationship to public health problems.

We have obtained your address from U.S. Public Health Service. Any information will be greatly appreciated by our organ ization.-Harvey M. Burnette, Adm. Asst., Venereal Disease Control, Florida State Board of Health, Jacksonville. REVIEW EDITOR: It was my good fortune to come across some Information conceming your organization in a book, The Sixth Man, by Jess Stearn. My interest was aroused, but when I tried to locate the local chapter of your society, their phone answering service said they thought they had moved.-Mr. L.N., Los Angeles. EDITOR'S REPLY: The Mattachine Soc lety no longer maintains local chapters. Any communications should be addressed to the national office in San Francisco.

REVIEW EDITOR: After writing to Ann Aldrich, she forwarded my letter to Jaye Bell, Pres. of Daughters of Bilitis, Inc. She then gave me your address, and so here I am writing to you. I am twenty-one years old, and interested in the theater and do a lot of work in community theater, and have a chance to get into summer stock for June, July and August. I also write on the side, and just sent a short story of mine off to Jaye for The Ladder. I hope she likes it well enough to print It In The Ladder. If I may I'd like to send some of my work to Mattachine in the near future.

Maybe you have an old copy lying around that you could send me and I could see if I have anything to meet your standards. I am very interested in the kind of review that you publish. It is a wonderful thing to do for us, and I am very interested in helping something like this, if there is a chance to do so.-Mr. D.M., New York

REVIEW EDITOR: A correspondent of mine wrote to me about an article that was published in the REVIEW about a year ago dealing with the North American Indians and homosexuality.

I am doing some writing on the subject at

mattachine REVIEW

the moment and would be most interested in buying a reprint of the article if such is available or the entire back. copy of the issue in question. Would you please see what you can do about this?

I have intended subscribing to the REVIEW for God knows how long, but, first one thing and then another hold me back. Please let me have your current rates and I'll make a supreme effort to get a postalnote off to you for a year's subscription. . I would also be most interested in knowing the attitude of our scatological Customs Dept. regarding the admission of the REVIEW Into Canada. As you no doubt know, they ban One. I anticipate no trouble regardless of their feelings for Mattachine because after a very strong letter to Ottawa threatening court action, My copy of One arrives through the mails in its usual envelope every month on time. All of which seems to support my contention that unless we stiffen the back-bones of the "brethren" first (though just how, I'm sure I don't know) there is little point in trying to promulgate a"Homosexual Bill of Rights."' There is one other matter I would like to mention to see if you have any information on the subject: A toronto columnist, writing from San Francisco, reports that the V.D. rate is the highest in the U.S. and that 90% of the cases are from homosexual contacts. I find this extremely difficult to bellave. Is there any information available on this matter that you know of?-Mr. J.E., Canada.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We doubt that San Francisco's VD rate is highest in the U.S., and are not at all certain the 90% figure is valid. However we do believe that the U.S. Public Health Service VD clinic in San Francisco accomplishes the most efficient job of epidemiological control of venereal disease of any such facility in the U.S., which means they discover homosexual VD contacts to a greater extent than anywhere else. Our observation would indicate there Is probably as much VD in Houston or Atlanta, in Vancouver or Toronto (percentagewise) as in San Francisco. Health ser vice VD clinics in some of these other cit ies have not yet learned to (a) discover it; (b) attain the confidence and trust of the public, including homosexuals, and (c) have not yet achieved a full working cooperation with private doctors for purposes of VD control. Another thing: San Francisco VD clinic, it seems, doesn't pontificate about sex except where disease is concemed. It leaves moralizing to the individual, his church, the law, etc. and concentrates effectively upon the task it was set up to accomplish, namely, to discover, treat and cure venereal infections and to prevent the

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spread of such diseases in its area of responsibility by application of highest medical, Investigative, educational and ethical standards. The high figures some colum nists report sensationally are a measure of the clinic's effectiveness rather than a reflection of San Francisco's "Immorality." REVIEW EDITOR: Your company has been recommended to me as a publisher of body building and physique display magazines. Would you please send me Information as to the names of these magazines, mailing processes and the cost of these books.Mr. G.S., Kansas

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sorry, wrong number. We publish on the subject of homosexuality. For physique magazines, write to Physique Pictorial, 1824 W. 11th St., Los Angeles 6, or better still, visit almost any newsstand next time you are in Kansas City. REVIEW EDITOR: I would be very grateful if you would send me one or two examples of your periodical. I enclose 10 shillings. Please send the periodicals as ordinary post. (Not air mall). Thank you very muchl-Mrs. I.N., Transvaal, So. Africa. REVIEW EDITOR: While am in complete sympathy with the objective of the Society, I wish that I could approve of your defensive approach to the battle.

Prejudice is stupidity, and there are oggressive methods of revealing stupidity to to the prejudiced so that they are shocked or at least startled out of it. Your acceptance and reiteration of "queer", "abnormal", etc. are admissions that we are just that. The crux of the whole nonsensical "problem" of homosexuality is that a homosexualist does not share sexual experience with the purpose of reproducing himself. His objective is the same as the he terosexualist's-to have FUN. The only difference is that too often the latter finds himself chagrined with offspring. NOW: If a homosexualist (and note that he is not a homosexual-an adjective-tries to "make" a baby with his/her own sex: THAT is abnormality. I could concoct an essay on this subject. The last one you refused to print. I was trying to settle a silly argument once and for all time. I could do far more good with offering Insight to a subject 'which should never have even arisen than I could do with millions of dollars if I had them. Even the ten dollars are not wisely spent; It is a hopeful gesture. Trusting that you will take the offensive in the battle, as anyone with conviction would do, I remain, Mr. P.B., North Carolina.

REVIEW EDITOR: Enclosed is $20 to express my nausea at the police methods des scribed in "Puritan Terror." May I sug25