The Invisible Wall

By J111 Fox

Dear Pamela:

You have always let me use you as a sounding board, so I hope you won't mind if I do so in this case. I am very concerned with the "problem" of homosexuality. I doubt, however, that it would be much of a problem if it weren't for heterosexuals. That statement may indicate group disloyalty. Such is not the case, but I do get awfully depressed when I see people needlessly hurt.

Let me tell you my story: Ellis and Rusty, two girls who are homosexuals, moved into our neighborhood. They are both college graduates, have good jobs, are interesting people. They are an asset to the community, although most people around here are too prejudiced to realize it. One stupid (or shall I be charitable and say misinformed) person tried to get up a petition to drive them out. I guess the world hasn't progressed as far from the "witch" burning days as it thinks it has. The ironic part is that the petition instigator is a person with nothing to contribute to the community but idle gossip.

We have a pretty rough bunch of teen-agers here, and Ricky, their leader, set out to give Ellis and Rusty a real bad time. He slashed their tires, made nasty remarks and did his best to make them as miserable as possible. Luckily I had been able to establish a rapport, of sorts, with Ricky and had made considerable progress with him he no longer used a zip gun or stole things from my store. However, it was almost the end of our friendship when I attempted to interfere in his "persecution campaign. informed me, in no uncertain terms, that he would say whatever he pleased to those "damn queers." I blew my top. I told him he couldn't talk like that about my friends, so he slammed the door as he left.

After being ignored for a couple of weeks I sent a note asking Ricky to come to see me. Judging from the speed

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Ho