EDITORIAL

ONLY THE BEGINNING

THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF ATTACK ON MANY FRONTS. THE MATTACHINE SOCIETY AND THE DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS WERE VICIOUSLY ATTACKED IN THE SAN FRANCISCO MAYORALTY CAMPAIGN (SEE LADDER OF NOV. 1959). NEWSSTANDS: HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO WIDESPREAD ATTACK THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY FOR CARRYING "SMUT," THE CENSORS BEING PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITH POCKETBOOKS INCLUDING REFERENCES TO LESBIANS OR HOMOSEXUALITY. "GAY" BARS HAVE BEEN UNDER INCREASING ATTACK IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK, THOUGH THE RIGHT OF THE HOMOSEXUAL TO MEET AND BE SERVED IN A PUBLIC BAR OR RESTAURANT HAS BEEN UPHELD IN THE COURTS, DOB HAS ALSO BEEN UNDER SURVEILLANCE, AS IT WERE. OUR LANDLORD WAS QUESTIONED BY THE POLICE, AND MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY FORMED "HOMOSEXUAL DETAIL" TOOK IN OUR FIRST NATIONAL CONVENTION.

THE PICTURE IS NOT AS BLEAK AS IT MAY SEEM, HOWEVER. DOB HAS AND WILL MEET THE CHALLENGE NOT WITH BELLIGERENCE OR COUNTERATTACK, BUT WITH INCREASED EFFORTS TO BRING UNDERSTANDING FOR AND ABOUT THE HOMOSEXUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE EXPRESSED OUR WILLINGNESS TO MEET WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS THEY ENCOUNTER WITH THIS MINORITY GROUP. WE BELIEVE THAT A SERIES OF CONFERENCES THAT WOULD INCLUDE PERSONS FROM EVERY GROUP WHICH DEALS WITH THIS PROBLEM, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, COULD LEAD TO NEW UNDERSTANDING, NEW APPROACHES, NEW ATTITUDES NEW SOLUTIONS.

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AS THE LADDER BEGINS ITS 5TH YEAR OF PUBLISHING AND THE DOB STARTS ITS 6TH YEAR AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE REALIZE WE HAVE MADE ONLY A BARE BEGINNING. WE TAKE THIS TIME TO REINFORCE AND RE-DEDICATE OUR EFFORTS TOWARD UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE SO THAT WE MAY LEARN HOW BEST TO SERVE THAT COMMUNITY WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND THE CONSTRUCTIVE CREATIVITY OF THE HOMOSEXUAL.

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DEL MARTIN