Letters to Tangents
Tangents
March 1966 • Vol. 1 No. 6
Originally published in the March 1966 issue of Tangents
Sirs:
I have just finished reading a recent issue of Drum, and I was fascinated by an article on establishing a homophile movement in the U.S. I am 21 years old, and I feel there is a great need for this. However, I am unaware of what may have been done and what is being done in this realm. As I understand it, your organization, in one form or another, has been engaged in homophile work for over a decade. Can you give me any information regarding the idea of a movement? I am most anxious to hear.
DENISON
Sirs:
We were delighted at the opportunity of “sitting in” on the meeting of the National Planning Conference of Homosexual Organizations in Kansas City. We have learned a great deal about the organizations in general and organizing in particular. As you know, we are in the process of organizing at this time and probably will not have a concrete group as far as constitution, by-laws, purpose, etc. go for possibly a month or longer. There will be some changes in our outlook and status from that which you heard. This is necessary because we feel some of our problems in Kansas City are different from those in other areas just as other areas have different problems than we do. Nevertheless, we all have the same goals, maybe just different ways of approaching the problems.
KANSAS CITY FRIENDS
Sirs:
Our January 21 essay, “The Homosexual in America,” has elicited many letter expressing a wide variety of opinion.
TIME did not set out to either attack or defend the homosexual. Our purpose was to examine the homosexual’s place in our society and the reasons for the changing attitudes with respect to him. We interviewed many people directly concerned with the problem in an effort to obtain all points of view. We did try to emphasize the most important aspects of homosexuality in the U.S. today and to do so with fairness and understanding toward the problems
TIME
Sirs:
Your editorial in the December issue of Tangents certainly brings up a subject of vital interest to the homosexual movement especially at a time when so many gutless, unpatriotic cowards are trying to avoid the draft.
At no time during our present struggle for equal rights and recognition has it been more important for us to take steps to clarify misconceptions concerning the average homosexual. The years of hard work by the homosexual organizations will suffer a set-back if we allow the public to believe some homosexuals are not responsible or fit for military service.
I would suggest that we conduct our own poll immediately concerning military service records of homosexuals. In the very near future you should send out a questionnaire that will give a good indication as to the extent the homosexual has served his country. The proper questions might result in some answers that would make substantial reading if brought to the attention of the public.
I enclose a list of the questions that I suggest might serve the purpose. I have long been interested in learning some facts on the subject. By far of the hundreds of homosexuals I have known or met, the greatest percentage served in the armed forces—and well. The most satisfying act of my life so far has been to shed blood for my country. And I am one-hundred percent homosexual. Those who protest the draft haven’t got the guts to fight for their country, and I am quite sure they haven’t the guts it takes to face the world as a homosexual.
NEW YORK CITY
Editor’s Note: As the result of Tangents’ editorial we have had many letters voicing the same opinion of the writer from New York. A questionnaire similar to the one he proposes is being considered. See page 13 this issue concerning our Armed Forces Day meeting. Those interested may write Tangents’ offices.
Sirs:
In regard to your write-up of the situation at Florida State IL, it is my belief that homosexuals should try to conduct themselves in public without reference to their sexual proclivities. But I certainly don’t believe in entrapment to bring about an arrest. I have a feeling that these college boys in Tallahassee who are turning the gay ones in for ten dollars, would, under other circumstances, go for the sex act themselves for the same prices—if they had the chance.
FAIRVIEW
Sirs:
I wish to suggest one amendment to the excellent editorial in your issue of January, 1966. 1965 saw the formation of three Councils on Religion and the Homosexual, not two.
The Washington Area Council on Religion and the Homosexual came into formal being in May of 1965. I am one of its Co-Chairmen—the Co-Chairman from the homophile community. The Co-Chairman from the clergy is the Chaplain of one of our local universities.
The Washington Area Council on Religion and the Homosexual is essentially a closed group, consisting of about 20 clergymen—Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish (participating as individuals, not as official representatives of their churches)—and about five members of the homosexual community chosen by the Mattachine Society of Washington. It meets approximately every two months at one of our local universities.
The organization has a formally adopted constitution, recently ratified, and we hope to have a specific program of action under way shortly.
FRANKLIN E. KAMENY WASHINGTON, DC.
Sirs:
We regret to say that we find it impossible to accept advertising for Tangents magazine in the New Republic.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Sirs:
I have noticed the mentions of the various councils on religion and the homosexual that have sprung up recently, and perhaps, this is all to the good. But it is my understanding (which information I got from you a few years ago) that the only church which actually welcomes the homosexual into its congregation is the American Eastern Orthodox Church of 1580 Bledsoe Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada. Is this still true?
BATON ROUGE
Editor’s Note: To our knowledge, yes.
©1966, 2016 by The Tangent Group. All rights reserved.
