Lesbian life which you have depicted may be likened to a similar study of heterosexual life in which only the Skid Road characters and the well-to-do are delineated. Your sampling is just not very representative. It would seem that instead of correcting any misconceptions as to the stereotype already conceived by the public you have merely retraced the outline with indelible ink.
Surely in your 18 years of Lesbian experience you have met those capable of carrying on an intelligent conversation. Surely you must have met some of the hard working, ineffectual citizenry who do not measure their importance by their bravado. There are many Lesbians, Miss Aldrich, who have full and rich lives – with varied interests and pursuits, least of which may be the "gay bar".
For here again you leave a false impression. If Lesbians are so dedicated to the bottle, how can it be that Helen Branson (author of "Gay Bar", Pan-Graphio Press, 1957) contends that the Lesbians which she might wish as a clientele do not frequent gay bars enough to support one?
You have put so much stress upon the miserable, pitiful, lonely, rejected and bewildered Lesbian, Miss Aldrich, that it has led many to question why you have not sought the "oure" you believe possible. For it is our contention that the isolation and loneliness of the homosexual has been highly exaggerated for dramatic effect.
May we also point out that some Lesbians seek out psychiatric counsel and are helped for personal problems other than their homosexuality? That often instead of "curing" the psychiatrist helps the Lesbian to "accept herself".
Your books are filled with inconsistencies, paradoxes and contradictions, Miss Aldrich. Every positive and constructive statement is swept over lightly only to be denied in the next slash of the pen. So that we finally come to the all important question:
How much of your work is really the TRUTH AS ANN ALDRICH SEES IT?
We are aware of the difficulties encountered in commer-
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