EDITORIAL

How Far Out Can We Go?

AS ANNOUNCED IN THE LAST ISSUE OF THE LADDER, DRAFTING OF A HOMOSEXUAL BILL OF RIGHTS WILL BE THE PROGRAM FOR ONE'S MIDWINTER INSTITUTE TO BE HELD IN LOS ANGELES JANUARY 26-29, 1961. WE CAN ONLY ASK HOW FAR "OUT" DOES THE HOMOSEXUAL WANT TO GO? HOW LUDICROUS CAN WE GET?

SUCH A "BILL OF RIGHTS" IS UNNECESSARY, IRRELEVANT AND LIKELY TO SET THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT BACK INTO OBLIVION. IN THE FIRST PLACE, DRAWING UP A "HOMOSEXUAL BILL OF RIGHTS" IMPLIES THAT THIS DOCUMENT WOULD BE A STATEMENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS ENTIRE MINORITY GROUP. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. IT FURTHER IMPLIES A DEMANDING ATTITUDE TOWARD SOCIETY. THIS DOES NOT CORRESPOND TO THE FEELINGS OF MANY OF US. IT CARRIES THE FLAVOR OF AN ULTIMATUM, WHICH OF COURSE WE WOULD BE POWERLESS TO ENFORCE. IT IMPLIES THAT WE WANT EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS YET WE WANT NO RIGHTS FOR OURSELVES WHICH WE WOULD NOT EXTEND TO OTHERS.

FOR ALL OF THESE REASONS SUCH A "BILL OF RIGHTS", IF DRAWN UP, WOULD LEAVE US WIDE OPEN AS A TARGET OF RIDICULE FROM THOSE WHO ALREADY DISLIKE US AND WOULD MAKE IT MUCH HARDER FOR OUR FRIENDS TO CONTINUE HELPING US.

IN PLACE OF THE PROPOSED "CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION" WE SUGGEST THAT OUR FRIENDS AT ONE MIGHT MORE VALUABLY APPLY THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS TO DRAFTING A STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSES AND GOALS OF THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT. SPENDING SO MUCH TIME AND ATTENTION ON ENUMERATING A DETAILED LIST OF GRIEVANCES TAKES TIME AWAY FROM MORE CONSTRUCTIVE PROJECTS. IT MIGHT ALSO ONLY SERVE TO REINFORCE THE PARANOID TENDENCIES SOME HOMOSEXUALS ALREADY HAVE!

IN THE SUGGESTED "STATEMENT OF PURPOSE" ANY REFERENCE TO "RIGHTS"