proach that denotes both biological and psychological roots for homosexuality.
The biological roots are clear: A phase in our ontogenetic develop ment when the undifferentiated organism has the potential of developing into either sex. Psychologically, too, we receive tenderness, affection, abuse and cruelty at the hands of both men and women. So many factors in the history of each person shape his sexual destinies that to make the cause of homosexuality a simple one is not to face the facts.
Some observers believe that homosexuality is merely a matter of constitution and biochemistry, although present knowledge shows no basic difference in either constitution or biochemistry between the homosexual and the heterosexual. One should therefore strongly suspect claims about a cure of homosexuality by hormonal treatment. A British report on recent developments in psychoendocrinology stated that homosexuals cannot be changed to a more masculine attitude "In most of them," the report said, "testosterone merely accentuates the homosexuality. In general, its action is to increase the quantity of the sex drive without in any way altering its main direction." Far more evidence indicates that environmental and developmental factors help to shape the individual's avenues of sexual outlet. But research in the whole area has only begun to tackle the problem of cause.
A story of my clinical experience in Southern California some years ago will illustrate the complications involved in the evaluation of hormonal treatment. The medical literature at that time contained favorable reports of treatment of homosexuality by androgens, and it acquired a certain vogue. Several California jurists who knew the futility of sentencing homosexuals to jail began sentencing the convicted person to undergo treatment. Some persons were sentenced to have hormonal treatment, others to have psychiatric treatment. As a result of these efforts further articles reported successful treatment with androgens-successes that I as a psychiatrist envied.
One day a young man came to my office to consult me about d problem that only skirted on his homosexuality. A confirmed homosexual, he had little anxiety about his activities because he considered himself a constitutional homosexual and felt relatively blame less. In the exploratory course of our discussion he said that he had once been treated by androgens, not entirely of his own will, as the result of a court sentence. He then described how he and several of his associates had contrived to "respond" to the treatment, varying their stories so as to give them the hue of veracity. He said that he arrived late for his first appointment and grumbled at the injection. The nurse reminded him to return for his next one "or else." Next time he complained of noticing no improvement at all. On the third visit he told the nurse he was depressed and said that he and his boy friend had fallen out and might separate. Next time he was more depressed and was moving out, he said, because he could not tolerate his boy friend. The fifth time he carefully implied he was less de16
AUGUST
SAN FRANCISCO ON THE SPOT
The theme "San Francisco and it's Homophile Community A Merging Social Conscience" will bring together for the first time city officials, hombsexuals, and ministers in a program designed to find solutions for the citys so called "homosexual problem.
་་
The occasion is the Fourth National convention of the Daughters of Bilitis, Inc. which will be held Saturday, August 20th at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco. The all-day meeting will be open to the public.
Speakers will include Judge Joseph G. Kennedy of the municipal court and president of the Council of Churches, Mrs. Dorothy von Beroldingen from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Dr. Ellis D. Sox director of the Dept. of Public Health (Rep. Mayor Shelly of San Francisco), Dr. Evelyn Hooker from U.C.L.A.
The San Francisco Chapter of DOB will host participants in the convention at a cocktail party and buffet on Friday before the opening of the convention.
The DOB convention begins a ten day period of intensive educational and social programs hosted by the citys homophile organizations. This period ends with the second meeting of the National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations August 25, 26, and 27. The ten days worth of activity will include seminars on Theology and the Homosexual, Legal and Penal Code Reforms, A Psycho-Social View of Homosexuality, Communication, and Leadership.
All seminars will be open to the public with the exception of the Consultation on Theology and the Homosexual. This consultation will be by registration only (limited to 40), with afee of $5 required plus some knowledge of theology, homosexuality, and a commitment to participate in the entire consultation which will start Monday evening, August 22, and conclude at 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 24. Registrations must be in by August 1. For additional details and a registration blank write: CRH Theology Committee, 330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, Calif. Tentatively the scheduling of these ten days in August will be as follows.
:
L.M.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 DOB Convention Reception
SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 DOB Convention, Open Session
SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 Orientation (contact CRH) DOB Business Meeting(members only) DOB Party (women only)
MONDAY, AUGUST 22 Tavern Guild fishing trip Seminar: Psycho-Social View of Homosexuality
Consultation (open): The Pastoral Theologian Looks At Homosexuality TUESDAY, AUGUST 23
Theology Consultation (closed) Seminar: Legal and Penal Code reform Consultation (open): A Sociologist Looks at Homosexuality and Moral Theology.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24 Theology Consultation (closed) Seminar: Communication Seminar: Leadership Tavern Guild Brewery Party
Pannel of Leaders to answer quiz.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25 National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations (Note: Sessions of this conference are open to the public but only official delegates may actually participate.)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations Wine Tasting Party
DOB Musical Variety Show
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 National Planning Conference of Homophile Organizations Citizen News Cocktail Party (conference delegates, invited guests, and Citizen News Subscribers only) Dance Society for Individual Rights
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
Tavern Guild Picnic (ALL DAY)
We suggest that anyone who can do so arrange their vacation for the period of August 2028 in order to be in San Francisco for these informative and exciting TEN DAYS IN AUGUST..