Calling

Shots

NEW ORGANIZATIONAL

SETUP RATIFIED

Mattachine has long been notorious for reorganizational hassels seemingly without end (see "Readers Write," this issue). But its leaders hope that while the end may never be reached (it seldom is in a living, evolving project), at least the strain of it will be minimized to the utmost in the times ahead.

letters and the quarterly newsletter, Interim) and to others interested in the projects through One magazine (see "Tangents," May 1961; "Homophile Diaspora: A Tale of Two Cities," June 1961).

In the meantime, Secretary Don Lucas drew up a proposed set of by-laws after the wheels were set in motion by the Chairman's proposal of March 15. A special general members hip meeting was called for July 15 at San Francisco to ratify the action. During the period, plans to formally organize other groups, particularly in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, were advanced. These are still in progress and will be reported as they are accomplished. An organizational move in Denver to establish "The Neigh bors" was shortlived; it disbanded in July.

New by-laws of the Society were issued in the August issue of Interim to the membership (which membership now becomes "supporting" instead of "active"). With this accomplished, the Society cites these advantages in the new setup:

March 15-July 15, 1961, embraces a period where the entire organizational concept of the Society was revamped. From a voting membership organization it became a foundation type organization with a Board of Directors in charge. Many reasons were 1. Legal liability of the Mattachine cited for the decision on March 15 to Society (a California corporation) is. dissolve Mattachine Area Councils now minimized. With it, the threat of in New York, Boston, Chicago, Deninvolvement with possible criminal ver and San Francisco. But the plan elements is also minimized, since was to urge establishment of these only the California corporation will groups into properly organized corpuse the registered name and trade orate bodies in their own states unmark of "Mattachine." Other solicitder other names and to absolve the ed funds, etc., in any locality in an Califomia Mattachine corporation of unauthorized manner will be reported responsibility. No real dispute as to to law enforcement agencies in that the wisdom of this move came up. locality as appropriate. Considerable publicity about it went out to Mattachine membership (via

2. More independent project groups in the field are encouraged, each fulVILW

filling its own responsibility in its tion for grants in aid and permits tax exemption status.

own locality.

3. The "threat" of a national "pressure group" is abolished. However Mattachine continues to seek support nationally as in the past, and is concerned with problems that are national in scope, as well as local in other states outside California. It will continue to make every possible public service available nationally as in the past.

4. Administrative detail, impossible to accomplish satisfactorily in an organization staffed by volunteer workers, will be vastly swept away. Mattachine has been justly criticized for its heavy organizational burden in the past; now this is reduced to the reasonable minimum.

TELEVISION PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED AT SAN FRANCISCO

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 9:30 p.m. is the date and time of the hour-long documentary by National Educational Television, "The Rejected," over KQED, channel 9, San Francisco. Featured on this discussion of the homosexual male and his problems of acceptance and understanding are Dr. Margaret Mead, anthropologist; Dr. Carl M. Bowman, psychiatrist; Dr. Erwin Braff of the U.S. Public Health Service; Attorneys Morris Lowenthal and Albert Bendich; District Attorney Thomas Lynch; Bishop James A. Pike of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California; Rabbi Alvin Fine; Attorney 6. Mattachine Society now takes on Albert J. Hutchinson, formerly of the the aspects of a foundation with a Attorney General's staff in Califorpermanent and experienced leadernia; James Day, manager of KQED ship, which qualifies the organizaand others, including a panel of three

5. Income prospects are now more stabilized, and adoption of a budget is facilitated.

THE ROOTS OF BIAS

Most Christians identify "Pharisees" with "hypocrites" and regard them as generally evil. This is due to faulty religious education. The truth is that Jesus took the Pharisees seriously and felt it was particularly important to express judgement against them precisely because they were the most serious and devout Jews of His day. Some Protestant writers recognize this when they say the Pharisees represent the status quo of society. More pointedly, they represent ourselves at our most respectable. But, as Dr. Olson points out, we conceive of most stories as having a hero and a villain, and we like to identify ourselves with the hero. Therefore, students of the Bible tend to identify themselves with Christ against the Pharisees. Actually, they should be identifying themselves with the Pharisees, against whom stood and stands-the judgement of Christ. Rt. Rev. James A. Pike, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California