"'FLABBY FICTION,' MY OEIL! (ACCORDING TO M. GARDNER.) THE LADDER HAS PRODUCED SOME EXCELLENT CHORTS IN THE PAST, AND THESE ARE THE HARDEST VARIETY OF LITERATURE.

HAPS CHE CAN DO BETTER?"

;

ASK MIRIAM TO 'DONATE' A FEW. PER-

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KADELINE, CALIFORNIA

"IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MISS ALDRICH'S MAIN OBJECTION IS THE PICTURE OF THE LESBIAN WE ARE SHOWING THE WORLD

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THE IRRESPONSIBLE, ARGYLED, SLACKED, CHORT-HAIRED FEMALE CARPENTER WHO IS TOO IGNORANT TO REALIZE THAT SHE, TOO MUST LIVE IN THIS SCCIETY; THAT CHE, TOO, IS OBLIGATED TO HOLD DOWN A JOB TO SUPPORT HERSELF; THAT SHE HAS A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY TO HER FELLOW LESBIANS AND TO SOCIETY, AS WELL AS TO HERSELF.

"THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE LEARNED ALSO, CHIEFLY THROUGH THE DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS, THAT A FULL-FLEDGED, HONEST-TO-GOD LESBIAN CAN HOLD DOWN A RESPONSIBLE POSITION, CAN WEAR SKIRTS REASONABLY COMFORTABLY AND GRACEFULLY, CAN WEAR HER HAIR LONG, AND CAN DO A MILLION AND ONE THINGS ANY OTHER FEMALE CAN DO IN THIS SOCIETY WITH EASE AND POISE, TOO; THAT'S THE GREATEST BLESSING!

K

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"IN SHORT, IF WE HOMOSEXUALS WANT TO FEEL INTEGRATED INTO

SOCIETY, WE IN TURN MUST OFFER SOMETHING USEFUL AND DESIRABLE TO ACCEPT.

"'I'M GRATEFUL TO GOD TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS EVEN IF MANY STORIES IN THE LADDE MAY BE DISTASTEFULLY TINGED WITH BRILLIANT PLAIDS OF ARGYLE."

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N. R., CALIFORNIA

"I READ IN THE LADDE (NOVEMBER, 1960) A LETTER BY THE REV. P. E. LAURENT, PARIS, FRANCE. IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST LETTERS EVER WRITTEN BY A MINISTER OF THE ANCIENT GOD.

..

"SO VERY TRUE THAT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT (OF THE BIBLE) THE GOD AP-

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