OF THESE PROJECTS IS ASKED TO WRITE TO THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE AT THE DAUGHTERS' OFFICE, 165 O'FARRELL ST., SAN FRANCISCO 2, CALIFORNIA.

OUR FIRST VENTURE INTO THE QUESTION OF CHANGING OUTMODED LAWS APPEARED IN THE SEPTEMBER 1958 ISSUE OF THE LADDER "OPEN LETTER TO ASSEMBLYMAN JOHN A. O'CONNELL".

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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE LADDER HAS GROWN IN TWO YEARS' TIME FROM A 12-PAGE MIMEOGRAPHED NEWSLETTER TO A 28PAGE MAGAZINE THAT IS DRAWING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION.

CONSIDERING THAT ALL THESE ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED ON A PART TIME, VOLUNTARY BASIS WITH LIMITED FUNDS, WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE RATHER WELL SO FAR IN THE PURSUIT OF THE AIMS OF THE ORGANIZATION. WHILE THE MEMBERSHIP HAS GROWN FROM 8 TO 70, THERE IS STILL ONLY A SMALL WORKING NUCLEUS.

THE DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS WAS FOUNDED AS A WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION PRIOR TO ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF EITHER ONE, INC., OR MATTACHINE SOCIETY. THE RECEPTION WE RECEIVED BY THESE TWO GROUPS ON MUTUAL DISCOVERY WAS "WELL, IT'S ABOUT TIME – WELCOME TO THE FOLD!" FOR PRIOR TO THE INCIDENCE OF THE DOB, ONLY A FEW WOMEN HAD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE ACTIVITIES OF EITHER ORGAN-IZATION. AND IT IS NOW A PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED FACT THAT THE BEST WAY TO DRAW THE LESBIAN INTO THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT (WHICH DATES BACK TO 1950 WITH THE FORMING OF THE ORIGINAL MATTACHINE FOUNDATION) IS THROUGH AN EXCLUSIVELY WOMEN'S ORGANIZATION. WE ARE NOT IN ANY WAY COMPETING WITH MATTACHINE OR ONE (IT IS THANKS TO THEM THAT WE HAVE GROWN AS RAPIDLY AS WE HAVE!) AND HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MUTUAL ACTIVITIES. LAST FALL UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF DOB, ONE INSTITUTE OFFERED A FULL WEEK'S LECTURE SERIES IN SAN FRANCISCO.

PLANS ARE NOW IN PROGRESS FOR POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS OF THE DAUGHTERS. IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES. ANYONE LIVING IN THESE AREAS WHO MAY BE INTERESTED SHOULD WRITE AT ONCE TO DOB HEADQUARTERS IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

DEL MARTIN, PRESIDENT DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS

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