THE SEARCH FOR LOVE

(Continued from Page 2) now to several of our more brilliant authors, artists, physicians, and humanitarians. Through the pressures brought upon them by society, (and by "society" I kindly refer to those among us who consider themselves so Christian and perfect that they can judge the sins of others before rectifying their own) these individuals' love seeks an outlet. These beautiful paintings, great works, and feats of humanitarian endeavor are, in themselves, expressions of love.

There is a very great man I think of most every day. He dedicated his life to the service of mankind. He was acclaimed throughout the world for his selfless contribution to humanity. I wonder how many so-called “normal” people would continue to acclaim him as their hero, if I were to make them aware of his tendencies? Would they learn tolerance?-or crucify him for something he cannot help?

It is said that society creates its own problems. In the case of the homosexual, this is particularly true. One might also hastily add that society never likes to recognize a problem and thus, never tries to solve problems in a sane, logical manner. I find it increasingly difficult to believe, as more and more examples of this are brought to my attention, that we are actually living in the twentieth century! The emotional element wrought by public ignorance of facts and prejudice always manages to creep in somewhere along the line. The most society can do at the present time, it seems, is to seek justification for the destruction of the individual man—the non-conformist. And, in doing this, society quotes-and clings to-obsolete laws which were brought into being at a time when the Maid of Salem was tried for witchcraft!

Ah! We have some devout church-goers among us today! Yes, my friends, you may quote the Bible to drive home your point, just as long as I may quote likewise. We are taught in the Scriptures to love all things which God created, and we as the form of life which God gave the most intelligence and consciousness-should have learned the meaning of love and compassion. But we didn't, obviously. We interpreted the Scriptures-and took the basis of our laws from the Ten Commandments-without considering one's fellow beings, and without differentiating between the criminal and the weak or sick. We take the Ten Commandments-the very basis for our laws-and interpret them whichever way one so desires. Most people do, for I can see no other reason for the great number of legal "experts" today! But, as Emerson has said: (In this case: substituted) "Society believes that by mountains of so-called fact, it can climb into the Heaven of thought and truth.. The lay-public is quick to seize upon the child's susceptibility to sexual offenders, and uses this image as a figurehead in its drive to eradicate homosexuals from the face of the earth; and those who take it upon themselves mattachine REVIEW

to speak for "public opinion" say that the homosexual is a very dangerous, irresponsible person who molests children, or criminally assaults them. By publishing such false statements repeatedly, attention is inevitably drawn from the real offender.

If the homosexual were the type of person so described, I should imagine that the larger percentage of them, including latent homosexuals, who have fathered children, would pack the divorce and criminal courts to capacity! However, the educated people-the psychologists, the physicians, and other high-placed authorities in the field of jurisprudence and criminology-know that child molestation just doesn't "fit" with the personality factors of the homosexual. There are a few instances perhaps, but the incidence is even lower than that of child molestation in the "normal" heterosexual counterpart.

The homosexual who chooses to work with children, either as a teacher, counsellor, or physician, usually does so because, to him, this child-or these children-represents the child he was unable to father. He looks upon the child exactly the same as most parents do. Never (and I speak for myself here), NEVER does the thought of physical contact-or sex-enter his head. He is with your child for one reason and only one reason: to give your child a good education, or save the child from disease. As a homosexual who has had to learn to live with an intolerant public, I have learned to be "tolerant." Of course, I am unhappy, but others share my unhappiness and the pressures of society. However, let me make it quite clear that the homosexual would never wish to have others share his misery by treading the same path he has trod. Few, if any, become homosexual by choice and those that are homosexual would do everything in their power to save any youngster from the terrible derision, loneliness, and hardship which society heaps upon him.

Yes, the love of one man for another can be very strong. It has to be, to withstand the abuse of an intolerant public. But, it is love; and like love, anywhere, it will continue to exist no matter how severe the penalties imposed by society may become.

It is peculiar of society in a Western democracy that, at a time when all desire to live at peace with our fellow beings in other countries, we cannot even tolerate or sympathize with one of mankind's greatest psychological— or socialogical-problems: the homosexual. We are a nation divided, and will continue to be so, until we realize all of us realize that God did not put a price-tag on love, or specify, or discriminate between peoples. And until we realize that we have everything to lose and nothing to gain by demanding that all persons be similar.

See Some Myths About the Sex Offender and references therein, by Paul W. Tappan, Ph.D., Jur.Sc.D., professor of sociology and lecturer in law, New York University, in FEDERAL PROBATION, 1955; this article reprinted in Mattachine REVIEW, Vol. II, No. 1, February, 1956.