THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS TO BE CONSIDERED INDIFFERENCE, LACK OF INTEREST IN A "HOMOSEXUAL BILL OF RIGHTS", FEAR AND LACK OF TRUST. HOW WAS THE DRAWING UP OF THE "BILL" TO BE CONDUCTED AND TO WHAT PURPOSE WOULD IT BE USED?

IT IS AN INCONTROVERTIBLE FACT THAT WHATEVER ONE HOMOPHILE ORGANIZATION MAY SAY OR DO HAS AN EFFECT ON THE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WORKING IN THE FIELD, AND UPON THE HOMOSEXUAL MINORITY AS A WHOLE. TO THE PRESS AND TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME THOUGH THEY REPRESENT DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW. IT IS ALSO ASSUMED THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENT THE HOMOSEXUAL AT LAFCE, THOUGH THEY ARE ACTUALLY A MINORITY WITHIN A MINORITY.

BECAUSE OF THESE ASSUMPTIONS THE ORGANIZATIONS MUST BECOME AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE MINORITY GROUP THEY REPRESENT. THEY MUST BE AWARE OF THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THEIR WORDS AND DEEDS UPON OTHERS. AND THIS APPLIES AS WELL TO OUR FRIENDS IN PROFESSIONAL CIRCLES. IF WE TAKE ACTION WHICH MAY BE CONSIDERED OFF BEAT, WE ARE CERTAINLY PLACING THEM IN AN AWKWARD POSITION, TO SAY THE LEAST. HOW CAN THEY BE EXPECTED TO WORK WITH THE ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY CANNOT TRUST US AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHATEVER PROGRAMS WE MAY EMBARK UPON? IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ONE HAD PLANNED TO HAVE PROFESSIONAL PERSONS REPRESENTING THE VARIOUS FIELDS COVERED BY THE INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS GIVE THEIR COMMENTS ON THE PANEL AT THE BANQUET. ONLY TWO SUCH PEOPLE, DR. HOOKER AND AN ATTORNEY, DID SO. DID SO. THE OTHERS BEGGED OFF. WHY?

THE "HOMOSEXUAL BILL OF RIGHTS" CONTROVERSY CAN YET PROVE TO BE A CONSTRUCTIVE AND HEALTHY THING. THE HEAT OF DEBATE CLARIFIED THE THINKING OF A GREAT MANY INDIVIDUALS PRESENT. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A HOMOSEXUAL AND WHAT EFFECT THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT HAS HAD TO DATE. WE WOULD SUGGEST A FURTHER CONFERENCE BETWEEN LEADERS OF THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS TO PRESENT EACH ONE'S PURPOSES AND PHILOSOPHY AND TO DISCUSS THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO EACH OTHER, THEIR FRIENDS AND THE PUBLIC. PERHAPS THROUGH SUCH A MEETING A NEW FAITH IN THE HOMOPHILE MOVEMENT AND WHERE IT IS HEADED COULD BE ESTABLISHED. FOR FAITH AND TRUST MUST BE REPLENISHED. THAT WE ARE WORTHY OF TRUST MUST BE PROVED CONSTANTLY.

DEL MARTIN