(OTHER-DIRECTEDNESS, ORGANIZATION MAN, ETC.). FRANZ ALEXANDER,

IN THE WESTERN MIND IN TRANSITION DEPLORES AMONG OTHER THINGS THE ATROPHY OF MEN'S PRIVATE LIVES.

IS A MAN ENCOURAGED TO BE HIMSELF BEING.

NOT EVEN IN HIS OWN HOME TO PURSUE HIS OWN UNIQUE

"WHAT AT ONE TIME TO MOST OF US SEEMED A CURSE IS PERHAPS A BLESSING TO ALL. WE AS LESBIANS KNOW IN A VERY PERSONAL WAY SCMETHING ABOUT RETAINING AND DEVELOPING OUR PARTICULAR IDENTITIES. PERHAPS INSTEAD OF PLEADING, PLEASE, WORLD, ACCEPT US WE'RE REALLY VERY NICE AND NOT A BIT DIFFERENT' WE SHOULD SAY, 'LOOK, WORLD, WE UNDERSTAND THE AGONY OF LOSING WHAT EACH OF YOU FINDS BEST IN YOURSELF AND WE CAN HELP YOU TO BE UNAFRAID OF YOUR UNIQUENESS! '''

-

R. L., CALIFORNIA

| HAVE BEEN PLEASED IN THE LAST FEW ISSUES OF THE LADDER TO SEE THE 'BORDERLAND LESBIAN ARTICLES. * I AM CERTAINLY NOT AN AUTHOR-

ITY ON ANY SUBJECT, BUT FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND JUDGING FROM REMARKS MADE BY MY FRIENDS WHO ARE MARRIED, I BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF THE BORDERLAND LESBIANS ARE THAT JUST BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY,

"I ENJOYED JAY WALLACE'S ARTICLE AND FULLY AGREE WITH HER WHEN SHE SAYS THAT 'THE TRUE LESBIAN CANNOT TELL YOU "WHY" IN SO MANY GLIB PHRASES.'

"I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 13 YEARS AND HAVE FOUR CHILDREN. THEY HAVE BEEN MISERABLE YEARS OF FEAR AND GUILT BECAUSE OF MY INADEQUACY AS A WIFE AND MOTHER. I BELIEVE I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT I AM AS GOOD A MOTHER AS I CAN POSSIBLY BE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES. STILL THE FACT REMAINS, MY HUSBAND IS A VERY UNHAPPY MAN ALTHOUGH HE IS UNDERSTANDING. IT PUTS A STRAIN ON THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE, FOR, AS GEORGINA LLOYD WROTE, 'I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CURE MYSELF OF WHAT | AM A MASCULINE SOUL, WITH MASCULINE DESIRES, IN A FEMININE BODY.'

·

"BUT MAY I SAY THAT WE MARRIED LESBIANS CERTAINLY DO NOT LIVE IN THE WORLD OF SUNSHINE. TRUE, LOVE AND DUTY BRINGS US BACK, BUT

22