For hundreds of years back homosexuality has not only been known but disapproved of. More disapproved of in societies based on the old and new testaments of the Bible than in other religions. As a result homosexuals have been persecuted and prosecuted all this time in al- most all western countries though there have been times and places where it eased off for awhile. But todays world is changing exceedingly rapidly and exceedingly greatly — perhaps more than many of you real- ize, especially those that live in the midwest and south or in more rural or less heavily populated areas. It is probably more evident here in Cali- fornia than anywhere else in the country except possibly New York City. I could name off a whole ream of areas in which this change is taking place most notably but I'll save space by not doing so and stick instead to the area under consideration.

Most of you know the word "gay" as a synonym for homosexual, i.e. he is "gay," the "gay life," "gay" bar, etc. Today we have "Gay Liber- ation." Patterned after the efforts and activities of the black people first, then the other cultural minorities -- Mexican and Japanese in California, Puerto Ricans in New York and Indians in various places — and fol- lowed within the last 2-3 years by womans organizations, the homo- phile community is beginning to rise and fight back. Everybody has to have some sort of "liberation" banner these days and "Gay-Lib" is no exception. Homosexuals are coming out in the open, demanding rights and recognitions so long denied them. They are gradually giving up skulking about, denying their gayness, putting up with police rousts at gay bars, discrimination in restaurants and other public places, harass- ment by the military, dismissal by the Civil Service and private enter- prises, and being treated as “sick" people who need to be "cured” by psychiatrists and psychologists. This has been evidenced by lawsuits for reinstatement after dismissals, challenges to military rulings, demonstrations at bars and other places of segregations, riots with police in New York and elsewhere, demonstrations in the streets, homo- sexual parades in Los Angeles, New York and other places on the June anniversary of the "Christopher Street Revolution" in New York in 1969 when gays and police fought a pitched battle for several days; the appearance of Gay-Lib people at conventions of psychiatrists and psychologists and closing down sessions by interference with procedures until the professional people consented to listen to their side of the story. "Gay is Good" and "I'm Gay and I'm Glad" signs appear chalked on fences and the sides of buildings, etc., etc.

Now all that may shock some of you who don't live where its happen- ing or who have not found themselves involved in it as I was in San

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