secret, furtive group, we accepted shame and guilt as a part of our personality. It is easy to see why the "normal" man who, after a few clumsy experiments in sex, can marry and establish a satisfactory relationship with a woman, would be intolerant of those who cannot, since he sighed with relief when it "worked" for him. His own guilt feelings concerning that little episode with the boy next door, or the physical release with a "drinking buddy" in service, are still rankling, and he now joins society in condemning others who could not pass that hurdle.
Psychiatrists are very familiar with the "acting out" that guilt causes. When we feel guilty, we expect punishment, whether we are children or adults. Children are sometimes found standing in a corner after misbehaving, although the parent knows nothing of the misbehavior. If punishment is not forthcoming we seek it out, but more subtly as adults. We cruise the johns, expecting legal retribution; if there is no element of risk the experience is no longer satisfying. The more flamboyant act up on the streets, attracting attention so everyone can see that we are no damn good-degenerates, Mother's bad little boy. To some, being beaten as by a father is a sexual experience in itself. And when we attempt to establish a lasting emotional relationship with another homosexual our guilt stands in the way, both in the stability of the relationship which we feel we do not deserve, and in the pretense of a "marriage" which we can never really consummate. The shame we feel is never directed at us; instead we are given affection which we cannot accept. Society's barbs are diverted or softened, although we feel these are our due.
The term "society" is not synonymous with "the law." The law should be a reflection of society's attitudes-it fails when it tries to instruct. But the law is enforced by individuals with their own problems of sexual identification and guilt feelings from sexual experiences. Otherwise, why the lack of law enforcement against the fornicators in "lovers' lanes" (which is also illegal) and the complicated time-consuming traps set up for the homosexuals? And thus it can generally be said that the enforcement of the law more nearly approximates society's attitudes than the laws themselves. Changing existing laws to more reasonable and scientifically correct concepts is a laudable goal, but the basic problem is the society which instills the guilt in all of us, and our reaction to this guilt, our lack of self-esteem.
We can hold our heads up and be ourselves without conscious effort, for we also make contributions to society as any other men. We need not flaunt the differences, but accentuate the similarities between us and the "normal" man. Society produces the shame we feel, we accept society's standards, and we condemn ourselves to a life of guilt.
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mattachine REVIEW
THE QUERY MAN
INTERVIEWS
L
THE DUKE OF FATTINGAME
by Norman Anonymous
(Asked at the intersection of Turk, Greek, Taylor, & Mason Streets)
Q-Sir, may I detain you?
A-You know it!
Q-I'm The Query Man.
A-Don't fret, pet-the town's full of 'em!
Q-May I have your name, please?
A-I'm the Duke of Fattingame on my Daddy's side. Q-And your Mother's?
1.
A-Dear old Mother wås Princess Flab of Cooch BeHooch. She married out of Wedlock in Cannes.
Q-What is your occupation?
A-I'm a Sex-Offender.
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