Letters

Dear ONE:

I found a copy of ONE Magazine on a recent holiday in New York. It took that trip for me to really see myself. Being down there where gay life is much freer and easier made me stop and realize that I am what I am, and love it. I could kick myself for the years that I have wasted trying to understand this and fighting it. I was engaged three times, but girls just didn't do anything for me.

I suppose it is easy enough to tell everyone not to go through the same things I did, but we all have to find ourselves by ourselves. If anyone is gay and tries to fight, all he'll have is heartache.

Editor, ONE:

Mr. B. TORONTO, ONTARIO

Doesn't Hollister Barnes (August, 1958) know we exist? We walk alone in the night through the park. down the street, around the corner. Night after night we make the same rounds, and night after night return to our beds disillusioned. In some waking moments when desire is at low ebb, we face the truth: there is no one, nowhere.

We do not deny that homosexuality is a problem. The society in which we live considers our activities wrong, sinful, shameful, and we suffer, alway we suffer. No! We are not glad that we are homosexual. We are the sick homosexuals.

Dear sir:

Matt Kent

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

The article "Gay Beach, (July, 1958) was well written. One thing I disagree with is homosexuals setting aside places for fun. I am a homosexual, however I am at home with all people. It isn't necessary for me to frequent a Gay Beach, Bar, or Bath. To surround myself with fellow homosexuals doesn't make life any more interesting.

I think a homosexual should first examine himself, gain faith and assurance in himself. It is simple. We're men, regardless of our sex impulses. One doesn't change because he has tendencies. One need not be a flaming faggot. Lead your life with dignity. Love your friends, or lover. Treat your situation

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before the public with a casual air. ONE is doing well in its Editorials to strenghten the homosexual's balance.

To the Editors:

Mr. H.

NEW YORK, N. Y.

Hollister Barnes' article in the August issue. goes so far off the deep end that it can only convince those who weren't sure that homosexuals are unbalanced. Just a few samples: a. He ridicules the "marshmallow puffiness of marital bliss." Who is he to question the way others find happiness? b. I will refrain out of mercy from quoting in full the pompous nonsense about "the darkly vicious myth of family life. Some people seem to like this. deadly deception! This seems like a spiteful use of the same kind of sophistry that has so often been used against the homosexual. c. To paraphrase Louis XIV as a way of washing his hands of social disapproval is unfortunate. I can think of better models than Louis. d. What's wrong with the motto, "Act Square"? This he ridicules as the creed of what he calls "the asexuals." Anybody reading this who didn't like homosexuals anyway would say. "I told you they were criminal types."

This kind of thing is not, in my opinion, representative of homosexuals. If it were, I would give up all hope of promoting the homosexual's integration into society.

Dear Mr. Barnes:

Miss C.

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA

You wrote an article extolling homosexuality. When one continues to justify that which he has begun to praise, he is displaying serious uncertainty. There is no longer any need to justify homosexuality in the light of individual need. This has already been established. What is needed is purposeful writing presenting unimpeachable evidence of the lofty nature of homosexual love.

It is one thing to carry the banner of the invert, but it is sheer madness to challenge the foundations of heterosexuality. Do you have some theories on parthenogenesis? It is just as incorrect to judge the heterosexual relationship by the great many bad marriages which exist as it is for the uniniated to condemn homosexuality on the basis of the pervert who rapes little boys.

That God should be trusted to rid the universe of things "vile and unnatural" is idiotic. The arts would indeed miss a Proust, Gide, a Wilde, Whitman, Tschaikowsky. so would I, but it has never been shown that their sexuality was the generator of their great gifts. Many great men are homosexuals, but not many homosexuals are great men.

I do not take issue with the right of the

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