investigation. Of the five from Gulf resort Clearwater, William James. Neal was not taking it lying down. He contended through his attorney William F. Daniel that in 15 different respects the law providing standards for revocation of teaching certificates by the state Board of Education was vague and indefinite and that it was incumbent on the State Supreme Court to take jurisdiction in the matter, as a "class suit" that had effect over all of Florida's 37,000 schoolteachers.

LOOKING THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS

Tampa Bay ringed by St. Petersburg, nearby Sarasota, Tampa itself and half-a-dozen smaller cities was an area pretty frustrated over the 100% increase in homosexuality reported last year by chief Juvenile Court counselor Deane Bishop who claimed it was chiefly among the 13-17 year age group and especially among young girls.

Tampa Police Chief Neil Brown finally struck pay dirt, and we do mean dirt. It all began with the arrest of 48 men and women from what "Brownie' termed "known homosexual hangouts." Since 1955 vice officers had been compiling what you might call a little "Brown Book," at the Chief's instigation, of vital information concerning "known sex perverts" living in the area or coming there for "weekend parties." (See tangents, Aug., 1961).

Homosexuality "is definitely on the increase" complained "Brownie" adding that 10 years ago "we had very little homosexuality here." Guess he hasn't been around very much or he would have heard of the Plant Park Pansies who used to romp around the Desoto Oak back in '25 and at the old bandstand. Then there were those paths alongside the Hillsborough River and the

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hustler pack which swarmed in City Hall Park for years. In the '30s Ballast Point Park got pretty lively at times and in the '40s there were the locker-rooms at Sulphur Springs. And does "Brownie" really believe that all those hitch-hikers at the McDill Field gates really wanted nothing more than a ride into town?

Topsy-turvy stuff continued apace with County Sheriff Ed Blackburn boasting that the lawmen were staging the "largest single effort against homosexuality ever in Florida." Staged by a squad of 45 local, county and state investigators the next move centered on a North Tampa shopping-center restroom where over a period deputies had long and perhaps lovingly, witnessed "hundreds of lewd and lascivious acts," recording same by walkie-talkie and movie camera for future and, it is hoped, legitimate uses if you can call looking-glass looking legit at any time.

By latest report, and the newspapers got so hysterical the count became a bit muddled, going on 200 teachers, clergymen, businessmen and even some lesbians got the bracelet treatment, the latter not at the shopping-center tearoom, however. State Attorney Paul Johnson urged jail terms for the lot. "I'm convinced psychiatric treatment can do little for these people. Jail sentences are the best deterrent for this type of person." This was "therapist" Johnson's view of the situation.

Meanwhile Vice Squad Director Fred Patnode took over the harassment routine and said it "will continue until we're sure these people know without a doubt they are not wanted in Tampa." Apparently using that good old vice squad principle: if you can't do it legally do it anyhow, in one day he arrested 29 and subjected them to hour-long

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