"I WISH TO TAKE ISSUE VIGOROUSLY WITH M.Z.B. OF TEXAS FOR THE REMARKS MADE IN HER LETTER IN THE JULY ISSUE. NOT THAT | DISAGREE IN LARGE MEASURE WITH WHAT SHE SAYS, BUT THAT HER INTERPRETATION OF MY LETTER IN THE JUNE ISSUE IS 90TH INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE. THIS IS REGRETTABLE, BECAUSE I RESPECT BOTH HER INTELLIGENCE AND HER INTEGRITY.

"TO STATE MY POSITION WHICH I HOPE WILL NOW BE CLEAR ENOUGH FOR ALL TO UNDERSTAND:

1. TRUE, THE LIVES OF MANY LESBIANS ARE SORDID MESSES. SO ARE THE LIVES OF MANY NON-LESBIANS. BUT WRITERS OF FICTION IN

THE HETEROSEXUAL WORLD DO NOT FEEL REQUIRED TO CLOSE EACH STORY WITH THE MAIN CHARACTERS STILL FLOUNDERING IN THE IR MESSES. WHY SHOULD SUCH ENDINGS BE RECOMMENDED FOR THE MAJORITY OF HOMOSEXUAL BOOKS?

2. YES, I'M SURE WE AGREE THAT LADDER READERS WANT SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND A REALISTIC APPROACH. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I STATED IN MY EARLIER LETTER THAT ADJUSTMENT IS DIFFICULT WHEN THE INEXPERIENCED ADOLESCENT IS ASKED TO COMPARE THE SORDID-MESS BOOKS WITH WHAT THE YOUNG LESBIAN FINDS NATURAL, BEAUTIFUL AND FULFILLING.

A.) NO ONE NEED FEAR SHE WON'T LEARN THE TRUTH ABOUT HER OUT-OF-STEP LIFE: SHE HAS GENERAL READING TO TELL HER THAT, SHE HAS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS AND WIDE-OPEN EYES TO TELL HER THAT.

B.) SHE ALSO HAS AN IDEALISTIC DESIRE TO LEARN, EVEN THOUGH IT MUST FOR A TIME BE VICARIOUS, THAT ABOVE THIS WORLD OF MUCKY MESS THERE DO RISE A FEW ISLANDS OF PROMISE AND REWARD.

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C.) IT DOESN'T REQUIRE COURAGE TO WRITE A HOMO STORY ENDING AS MANY A HETERO LIKES TO SEE IT END; IT REQUIRES REAL COURAGE TO SAY, 'SEE HERE, MR. AND MRS. NORMAL, WE DON'T LIVE AS YOU DO; BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIKE OUR LOVE LIFE, MANY OF YOU DON'T LIKE US. BUT THE FACT REMAINS THAT

THIS IS AS NATURAL FOR US AS YOUR AFFECTION IS FOR YOU; THEREFORE, WE CAN BE, AND SURPRISINGLY OFTEN ARE, AS DELIGHTED WITH OUR WAY AS YOU ARE WITH YOURS!'