MATTACHINE BREAKS THROUGH

THE CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

(Continued from page 8)

able discharge and that he was "shocked at this act of Government." Ho went on to point out that this policy posed an inter osting conflict considering the gifts the variant had to offer society and considered it a "sad commentary when the Government denies education to such a group."

Reasons for the discriminati on problem, as Mr. Allen sees it, are: ignorance about things that are different and tendency to avoid anything "different"; fear which stems from guilt feelings and sex taboos ("Nothing could contribute to more mi sunderstanding and condemna ti on."); and the handling of homosexual cases by the morals or vice squads of the police ("No group is more ignorant in the field of sox offenses!").

Changing of existing statutes depends upon society, Mr. Allen said. Each country finds justificati on in history and religion for the laws they have set up, and change is slow to be accepte by the public and therefore the legislators. In this area of great taboo, legislators need the backing of competent psychiatrists, researchers and authorities in order to be effective in helping to bring about needed changes, he stated.

Members of the legislature are entirely depo ndent upon public opinion, Mr. Allen declared. People are worried People are worried about children and there still seems to be a parallel in the public mind bctween homosexuality and molesting of children. People are gen– orally suspicious too of any public official who is too knowledgeable. Why is he so interested? He must be in a position above reproach.

It is also unfortunato in our society that all sexual deviations are lumped to gether as illegal, Mr. Allen said. "Evon murder isn't called an 'infamous crime against nature'."

"I am

sure that many aro incarcerated who have not done anything harmful to society," Mr. Allen declared, "while others who have aro on the loose."

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