READER'S RESPOND

THE LA

"CONGRATULATIONS TO M.Z.B. OF TEXAS FOR HER FORTHRIGHT LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE JULY ISSUE. IT WOULD BE WELL FOR EVERY SUBSCRIBER TO READ CAREFULLY EACH MONTH THE PURPOSE OF THE D.0.B. STATED ON THE INSIDE COVER OF THE LADDER. KEEPING THESE GOALS IN MIND, THERE WILL BE NO DANGER OF DIGRESSING. A FRANK AND HONEST APPROACH IS BETTER THAN SELF-GRAND I ZEMENT, WHICH SOOTHES SUPERFICIALLY BUT ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING FOR INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP. THERE IS A LONGRANGE PROGRAM TO BE UNDERTAKEN. THE SOONER WE GET TO IT, THE BETTER FOR ALL. THIS PROGRAM MUST BE AFFROACHED FROM AN HONEST STANDPOINT AND ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH INDIVIDUAL EFFORT. THE FIRST OUTWARD STEP IS THAT OF "ADVOCATING A MODE OF BEHAVIOR AND DRESS ACCEPTABLE TO SOCIETY", WHICH IS STATED AS ONE OF THE PURPOSES OF DOB.

"I LOVE NOTHING BETTER THAN SLACKS, HOWEVER, IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO PURCHASE CORRECT APPAREL SINCE MANNER OF DRESS IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF EVERY HUMAN BEING'S SELF-EXPRESSION,

"I HAVE PERSONALLY PROVED, IN MORE THAN A DOZEN CASES, THE IMPORTANCE OF MODE OF BEHAVIOR AND ACCEPTANCE OF DRESS IN ESTABLISHING UNDERSTANDING WITH HETEROSEXUALS, IT PAYS TO MAKE THIS SMALL CONCESSION. THE TWENTY HAPPY YEARS MY LOVED ONE AND I HAVE LIVED TOGETHER HAVE BROUGHT US LOYAL FRIENDS, BOTH HOMOSEXUAL AND HETEROSEXUAL. WE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY HETEROSEXUALS AND LATER INFORMED BY THEM THAT THIS ACCEPTANCE, IN ITS INITIAL STAGE, WAS BASED ENTIRELY UPON APPEARANCE AND BEHAVIOR. IT GIVES US A MEASURE OF SATISFACTION TO KNOW THAT, AS A COUPLE, WE HAVE DONE SOMETHING IN THIS WAY TOWARD ESTABLISHING A BETTER UNDERSTAND ING OF THE HOMOSEXUAL.

"ANY MINORITY GROUP WISHING TO BE ACCEPTED MUST CONFORM TO THE MAJORITY GROUP WHERE FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE CONCERNED. SUCH FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE FORMED SOLELY BY OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND ACTION. THE PROPER FIRST IMPRESSION ENABLES US TO ESTABLISH A CONTACT, WHICH IN TURN GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT LIES BENEATH

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