Dr. Alfred Eyres (Dis. Nerv, Sys. 21, 52 Jan '60) says, "Effective therapy, formidable and difficult in any of the personality disorders, is, in this particular entity (trans- vestism) practically impossible. ANY therapeutic approach relieving symptoms, tension, and discomfort and PROMOTING BETTER ADJUSTMENT certainly is in order." (Emphasis mine) Clearly understanding is basic to adjustment.
Drs. Bowman and Engle in an article entitled, "Medico-legal Aspects of Transvestism (Amer. J. Psych 113. 581 (1957) say, "It is generally agreed that all types of psychotherapy are a failure (as a cure for transvestism). So far there are no reported successfully treated cases", Drs. Walker and Fletcher in the book, "SEX AND SOCIETY" state, "When doc- tors are able to do as little for patients as we doctors manage to do for these cases of transvestism, it would be better for us perhaps to make efforts in another direction. Instead of treating the patients themselves, we might treat with more profit the society which makes it so difficult for these unfortunate people to live." If these quotations represent current medical opinion on the subject, surely a publication like TRANSVESTIA is entirely proper and needed YOU come into the future of the magazine, not just by way of financial support and contributions of material, but by being a watchdog too If ANY of you get mail from another subscriber which is in any way obscene, pornographic or questionable, I WANT IT REPORTED TO ME! I will out that person off our roles and refund any money due him. We need subscribers, but not so badly that we can afford to condemn the whole publication and the whole public understanding of our position for the benefit of a few rotten apples. I per- sonally would not continue to put myself in jeopardy with the authorities if I thought that such activities as the Post Office alleges were taking place.
WE must keep our own house clean and above reproach. We all know that the world confuses transvestism and homosexuality and when there is a campaign against the latter we are caught in the crossfire. I think the opportunity to contact others is important and should be maintained, but it can't be if such activities go on. The QUESTION is can we prove to them that we are clean? Charles Prince--Editor