Letters to Tangents
Tangents
January 1966 • Vol. 1 No. 4
Originally published in the January 1966 issue of Tangents
Sirs:
On the whole, 1 think, so far Tangents is a considerable improvement over the old ONE—I am sorry to see “The Homosexual Viewpoint,” has disappeared from the cover…but then the “Cause” is a bit passe.
I am really with you in belief that if we could build a big, shiny, pop magazine, a la Playboy, it would serve us very well, indeed. The only problem is if…
La Belle, etc. would have been great in a larger journal—but here the dullness of its style was quite overpowering. But some very interesting bits, if one dug for them.
Report on ECHO—necessary and illuminating…I hope everybody didn’t buy the propaganda dispensed by some of the speakers.
Cap and Bells: if only there were a Nobel prize for banality, Mr. Colton would now have won it.
Black Beauty: makes the magazine worth its price; rather than a donation to charity. It is a superb piece of work.
Tangents column I always enjoy; good content and style—it’s cogent.
Book reviews are book reviews…I like them.
Night In Eight Lines…Oh, well.
Don’t you get any punchy letters anymore?
DIAMOND BAR
Sirs:
The first copy of Tangents arrived this morning. My attention was immediately drawn by the omission of “the homosexual viewpoint” or words to that effect, f recall reading a letter from Mr. Slater wherein he extolled the virtues of the phrase. Please put it back: it’s true: and it provides recognition. I am certain I am not the only person who would feel badly were it to go into the wastebasket.
PRAIRIE GROVE
Sirs:
Since you have taken on the responsibility of publishing what was once ONE, it seems to me the tone of the stories has become increasingly vulgar. I don’t usually think of myself as a prude, but I must admit the last two stories contained a substantial amount of offensive language. It just seems to me the whole thing lacks taste, when it comes to your narratives; and is out of keeping with the rest of the publication which does have discretion in the way things are put. Isn’t there anything that can be done about this.?
NEW YORK CITY
Sirs:
Poor Los Angeles. This past summer saw racial riots, now there seems to be a rising tide of advocates for a series of rebellious acts which will go down in history as the Homosexual Riots of Los Angeles. I’m sure that the most recent rash of harrassments [sic] and closings of gay bars and unjustified arrests will not help the situation. I am afraid that the modern “faggot” is a lot more masculine and disgusted than the normal, everyday straight person realizes.
LOS ANGELES
Sirs:
I puzzled over your November cover for Tangents for quite some time.
At last I got it! Congratulations for one of the subtlest covers yet! Great, great, great!
DETROIT
Sirs:
We have recently received authorization to compile a bibliography of the avant-garde magazines. This compilation is to be done in conjunction with the building of a special collection comprised of little magazines, pamphlets, and chapbooks and ephemera representing modern literature. The aim of Simon Fraser University is to amass the best possible collection of representative works from 1945–1965.
It is our opinion that if publications such as Tangents, which appears to be the best in its field, do not find their way into libraries, much of the contemporary scene will he lost. May we request copies of your recent publications?
Barnaby
Sirs:
We thank you for the advertisement offered for publication in the Herald Tribune. However, we wish to advise you that our Board of Censors finds your advertisement unacceptable in the columns of the Herald Tribune. Although we cannot accept your copy we thank you for sending it to us.
NEW YORK CITY
Sirs:
Enclosed is a check for a subscription to your publication. I finally have to subscribe because last month they took you off our local stands. Evidently the ever crusading, torch burning members of the decency league have turned enough influence on to make the city fathers remove the “objectionable” magazines. This is the information I have so far. At first opportunity I shall do some inquiring to discover what actually happened. I hope you can get back on the stands here, but even if you do, it was time I subscribed.
OMAHA
Sirs:
Last month I read your magazine for the first time. Previously I bad read a considerable amount of literature on homosexuality and I have spoken to many homosexuals. It seems obvious to me that everyone who knows something about the subject agrees that a change in society’s attitude is long overdue—and it is encouraging to read that you have now gotten the cooperation of the ACLU on this matter.
However, isn’t far too much attention directed at the social and legal aspects of homosexuality? Let’s face it, society knows practically nothing about homosexuals and worse yet, has all kinds of ridiculous misconceptions about the subject. The stereotype image of an effeminate impersonation is here to stay. Why don’t you concentrate on changing the homosexual’s attitude of himself? Since be is such an outcast, the homosexual often can’t help but feel at least some guilt. As a result, I believe the basic problem may be to get the homosexual to completely accept himself. Has he?
SAN FRANCISCO
Sirs:
A controversial drama with a homosexual as the central figure was shown by the BBC in London early last year. But I have seen little mention of it anywhere. The day the play was to be screened, some of the London papers gave it no attention, other than mentioning the and cast; the Daily Mail, however, added the prim footnote: “Variation on the eternal triangle.” The play, Horror of Darkness, was written by John Hopkins. It involves three central characters—a married couple and a friend who arrives from Scotland. Horror of Darkness, treated the homosexual theme with compassion and understanding. Now that A Patriot for Me is coming to your country, maybe we can expect to eventually see Horror of Darkness.
QUEBEC
Sirs:
Your book section in Tangents is becoming quite noteworthy. To see Marcel Martin’s review of Totempole reprinted in Books for December, 1965 was an especial surprise. I can well see why that fine publication chose to excerpt Mr. Martin’s criticism. He did the very best job of any of the reviewers concerning the book. I am delighted that you are finally getting this kind of recognition. It is my opinion that the “split” at ONE has inspired vast improvements on your side. At last the “homosexual viewpoint” is articulate—and has a chance of being heard.
BOSTON
Sirs:
Today’s laws against homosexual acts cripple men and women who might make important contributions to society. Surely it is time to remove these laws. The age of psychological ignorance is drawing to its close. There are enough intelligent and informed Americans now to end forever the outmoded and hypocritical legal sanctions for the persecution of the homosexual minority. Your reporting that ACLU has now entered into the fight for sexual freedom is further indication that responsible organizations and individuals are taking their responsibilities seriously in this regard.
I couldn’t agree more with the prevailing opinion among the thinking population that sexual preference is not a matter for legal interference in 1966. Let’s get the laws changed!
ALBUQUERQUE
Content ©1966, 2016 by The Tangent Group. All rights reserved.
