sex laws ought to continue on the statuto books and which should be dropped. Judge Ploscowe considers a good rule of thumb to be the danger to public interest and cited the following as "musts"; Forco may not be used; children must be protected from assault; public decencies must be preserved, and prostitution must be suppressed to prevent the spread of disease.

The fundamental basis for the Model Penal Code now being prepared by the American Law Institute in the area of homosexuality is that sex activity in private is one's own business, the jurist said. In Sweden and Belgium there are no statutes against private activity. If the British eliminate prohibitions, some progressive states will follow suit, he added.

CHANGING LAWS IS POLITICAL PROBLEM

Procedure to change laws is basically a political problem, Judge Ploscowo pointed out, and would mean working on state legislators to effect desired changes. "This is not an easy matter, since there is a hostile counter public opinion, and no legislator wants to be accused of favoring adultery or homosexuality."

Despite this factor, there has been some progress made in New York where sodomy had been previously punished up to 20 years and is now considered a misdemeanor with a one year penalty.

Judge Ploscowe took a dim view of sex psychopath laws "passed because people got excited about dangerous sex criminals". He said that the statutes were not phrased to deal with the small group of dangerous criminals, but were drawn so broad as to take in all sorts of minor cocounts. He added that the laws were abused and were used primarily against minor offenders. The theory is that sox criminals are supposed to have treatment, but facilities are seldom provided for this.

The 1959 convention of the Mattachine Society will be held in Denver. It is suggested that all who may be interested in attending begin planning now to spend part or all of their vacation in that aroa.

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