READERS RESPOND

"MY SEPTEMBER LADDER ARRIVED |'M GLAD I SENT FOR EXTRA COPIES. WHAT A TREMENDOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT. YOUR RESULTS CERTAINLY EXCEEDED WHAT I PERSONALLY EXPECTED. TO HAVE A RETURN OF 32% ON A PERSONAL OR RATHER SPECIFICALLY SEXUAL QUESTIONNAIRE EVEN FROM A HIGHLY SELECT GROUP IS STATISTICALLY AMAZING. IT CERTAINLY SHOWS A LARGER GROUP WILLING TO HELP OUR CAUSE THAN | HAD THOUGHT EXISTED. IMAGINE THE REMARKABLE THINGS ONE COULD DO SOCIALLY AND POLITICALLY IF 32% OF THE ENTIRE LESBIAN POPULATION WERE ORGANIZED.

"THE MEDIAN AGE OF 32 IS HEARTENING. IS HEARTENING. I BELIEVE THIS SHOWS AT LEAST A POSSIBILITY OF LESBIANISM ACCEPTED AND PRACTICED BY THE CHRONOLOGICALLY MATURE. I WAS VERY SURPRISED BY THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF FORMAL EDUCATION AND GRADUATE WORK. ON THE OTHER HAND MY FRIEND FEELS THAT THIS IS EASILY EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT THE MORE INTELLIGENT PERSON IS THE MOST LIKELY TO TAKE THE TIME AND TROUBLE TO REPLY. (KINSEY FOUND A DEFINITE INCREASE IN LESBIANISM AS HE PROGRESSED UP THE EDUCATION LADDER.) I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO EVALUATE YOUR DATA; FOR INSTANCE, HOW ABOUT A CORRELATION BETWEEN PROMISCUITY AND EDUCATION, ALSO BETWEEN PROMISCUITY AND AGE. (KINSEY FOUND LESS PROMISCUITY AMONG HIGHLY EDUCATED PEOPLE, BOTH HETEROSEXUAL AND HOMOSEXUAL, MALE AND FEMALE.)

"MAY INTERPOLATE ONE POSSIBLE SUPERFICIAL CORRECTION, NAMELY THAT SINCE A TOTAL OF 71% OF YOUR SUBJECTS WERE EITHER CLERICAL OR PROFESSIONAL THEY PROBABLY ALL WORK FULL TIME YEAR ROUND. THIS STRENGTHENS THE PARAGRAPH ENTITLED INCOME LEVEL ON PAGE 7.

"ONE REALLY INTERESTING ITEM CONCERNS LIVING QUARTERS. SO MUCH NONSENSE HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON THE SO-CALLED 'DRIFTING' CHARACTERISTICS OF LESBIANS. YOUR STUDY TENDS TO SHOW EXCEEDINGLY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF ROOTED PEOPLE. IT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND THE HIGH PERCENTAGE OF FURNITURE OWNERS BECAUSE WOMEN TEND TO LIKE TO OWN THEIR PERSONAL EFFECTS, BUT THE 27% WHO OWN THEIR OWN HOMES SHOW A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF BELIEF IN PERMANENCE. THIS PARTIALLY DISPELS THE MYTH OF THE SAD LONELY LITTLE QUEER WHO KNOWS' HER RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE BRIEF AND FURTIVE. OH YES, YOUR NEXT QUESTIONNAIRE OUGHT TO INCLUDE ARTISTIC PROFESSIONS AND ARTISTIC TALENTS.