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OCTOBER • 50o >f th< OCTOER i960 ☆ t h e Laddeli VOLUME 5 , num ber I 9^ B IL IT IS Publiihed menlhly by tha Dmigirtws .1 BIIIHs, Inc., a nwi- eocpofctloo. 145 0 *Forr.ll Stfa.t, Room 405, Son F c * e ls e . 2, CallfMiila. TWaplin YUkaa 2-MN. K WOMENS ORGANIZATION FOR THE PURPOSE OP PROMOTING THE INTEGRATION OP THE HOMOSEXUAL INTO SOCIETY MATWMAL omCfRS. DAUOMTIM OR BlITIS, IMC f resident — Jaye Bell Vice President — Helen Sanders Recording Secretary — Dottle Dee Corresponding Secretary — Chris Hayden ...... Public Relations Director — Jo Carson ...... , , , Treasurer — Ev Howe O Education of the variant, with particular emphasis on the psych­ THE LADDER STAFF ological, physiological and sociological aspects, to enable her Editor — Del Martin to understand herself and make her adjustment to society in all Editorial Assistants — Agatha Mathys, Elaine Kingston, Millie Jensen, its social, civic and economic implications— this to be accomp­ Jean Nathan lished by establishing and maintaining as complete a library as Los Angeles Reporter — Sten Russell possible of both fiction and non-fiction literature on the sex de­ Production Manager — Patty Patterson Circulation Manager — Cleo Glenn viant theme; by sponsoring public discussions on pertinent sub­ jects to be conducted by leading members of the legal, psychiat­ THE LADDER is ragird.d as a sounding board for various points of view on tha homophila and related subjects and ric, reUgious and other professions; by advocating a mode of be- does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the organization. hsviof And dress acceptable to society.

© Education of the public at large through acceptance first of the individual, leading to an eventual breakdown of erroneous taboos and prejudices; through pubUc discussion meetings aforemen­ tioned; through dissemination of educational literature on the homosexual theme. On l y t h e b e g in n in g , Ed it o r ia l ...... * 0 Participation in research projects by duly authorized and respon­ POLICE CHIEF Re p l ie s ...... ^ sible psychologists, sociologists and other such experts directed Be h in d t h e Bo rd erla n d b y Mir ia m ...... towards further knowledge of the homosexual. LESBIANA...... On changing sex Laws by Ela in e Kingston...... 3 O Investigation of the penal code as it pertains to the homosexual, ...... 19 Re a d e r s Re s p o n d ...... proposal of changes to provide an equitable handling of cases

involving this minority group, and promotion of these changes Co v e r b y d o m ino through due process of law in the state legislatures. ED irO B lA l Police Chief Replies "YOUR LETTER DIRECTED TO MAYOR GEORGE CHTISTORC? ENCLOSITB THE ONIT THE lESINNINS COPY OF THE L4X)ER (AUGUST ISSUE) HAS BEEN FORWBROED TO MY AT­ TENTION FOR ANSWER. /

■ft« PAST YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF ATTACK ON MANY FRONTS. TtC NATTA- "HE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE CHINE Da u g h t e r s o f B i l i t i s w e r e v ic io u s l y a t t a c i^ LAW PROHIBITS A LIQUOR LICENSEE FROM CHOOSING H IS OWN CLIENTELE.

IN THE San F r a n c is c o m a y o r a lty c a m p a ig n ( s e e LADDER o f n o v . I 959)» •HE ARE ALSO EQUALLY A'WARE THAT LIQUOR LICENSEES HAVE IMPOSED UPON NEWSSTANDS' H A \E BEEN SUBxFCT TO WIDESPREAD ATTACK THROUGHOUT THE th em b y law THE DUTY TO CONDUCT THEIR PREMISES IN AN ORDERLY MAN­ co u n try FOR CARRYING "SM UT," THE CENSORS BEING PARTICULARLY CON­ NER, Th e FACT THAT ONE'S CLIENTELE IS MAINLY CCMPOSED OF HOMO­ CERNED WITH POCKETBOOKS INCLUDING REFERENCES TO LESBIANS OR HOMO­ SEXUALS DOES NOT ENTITLE SUCH LICENSEE TO ANY SPECIAL P R IV ILEG ES, SEXUALITY, "Ga y " BARS HAVE BEEN UNDER INCREASING ATTACK IN C A L I- NOR LESSEN THIS DUTY. FCRNIA AND NEW YORK, THOUGH THE RIGHT OF THE HOMOSEXUAL TO MEET AND BE SERVED IN A PUBLIC BAR OR RESTAURANT HAS BEEN UPHELD IN "To DELIBERATELY, ILLOGICALLY, AND WRONGFULLY IMPLY THAT TAVERNS THE COURTS. DOB HAS ALSO BEEN UNDER SURVEILLANCE, AS IT WERE. a r e p o l ic e d SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY CATER TO HOMOSEXUALS IS TO BLAf«0 - OUR LANDLORD «ttS QUESTIONED BY THE PO LIC E, AND MEMBERS OF THE LY IGNORE THE REAL BASIS FOR SUCH POLICE SIRVEILLAN CE; NACCLY, NEWLY FORMED "HOMOSEXUAL D ETA IL" TOOK IN OUR F IR S T NATIONAL CON­ THAT MANY OF THESE PREMISES ARE NOT CONDUCTED IN AN ORDERLY MAN­ VENTION. NER, and a s SUCH ARE INIM ICAL TO THE PUBLIC VOLPARE AND MORALS.

Th e p ic t u r e i s n o t a s b l e a k a s i t may s e e m , h o w cver. 006 h a s "/SNY a s s is t a n c e GIVEN BY YOU BY WAY OF IMPROVING SUCH CONDUCT IN

AKD w il l m e e t THE CHALLENGE - NOT WITH BELLIGERENCE OR COUNTER­ THE PREMISES IN QUESTION WILL BE APPRECIATED BY ME." ATTACK, BUT WITH INCREASED EFFORTS TO BRING UNDERSTANDING FOR and ABOUT THE HOMOSEXUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY, life HAVE EXPRESSED THOMAS J . Ca h il l , Ch ie f o f p o l ic e OUR WILLIKia^ESS TO MEET WITH PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND LAW ENFORCE­ San Fr a n c is c o , Ca l if o r n ia MENT AGENCIES TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEMS THEY ENCOUNTER WITH T H IS + + + ♦ ♦ * MINORITY GROUP. '\E BELIEVE THAT A SER IES OF CONFERENCES THAT WOULD INCLUDE PERSONS FROM EVERY GROUP WHICH DEALS WITH TH IS PROBLEI;!, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, COULD LEAD TO NEW UNDERSTANDING, WE DEEPLY a p p r e c ia t e CHIEF CAHILL’S TAKING TIME OUT TO REPLY TO new a p p r o a c h e s , new ATTITUDES - NEW SOLUTIONS. OUR l e t t e r and w is h h im TO KNOW THAT IT IS NOT OUR INTENTION TO " h a r a s s " THE POLICE ON THIS QUESTION OF "GAY" BARS. f DO NOT AS THE LADDER BEGINS ITS 5TH YEAR OF PUBLISHING AND THE DOB a s k fo r "LICENSE," NOR DO W£ CONDONE INDECENT BEHAVIOR. ii£ DO

STARTS ITS 6tH YEAR AS AN ORGANIZATION, Wfe REALIZE W£ HAVE a s k , HOWEVER, FOR A REA LISTIC APPROACH TO TH IS EVER-ORWING PROB­ MADE ONLY A BARE BEGINNING. YJE TAKE THIS TIME TO REINFORCE AND LEM - THAT t h e " g a y " b a r IS HERE TO STAY, THAT "HOUSE RULES" RE-OEOICATE OUR EFFORTS TOWARD UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND and a MODICUM OF POLICE INSPECTION ARE IN ORDER AND THAT A LITTLE t h e COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE L IV E SO THAT WE MAY LEARN HOW BEST MORE UNDERSTANDING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE IS NECESSARY TO TO SERVE THAT COMMUNITY WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING THE C IV IL RIGHTS EFFECT AN EQUITABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. "OECORLW" IS THE . AND THE CONSTRUCTIVE CREATIVITY OF THE HOMOSEXUAL, WORD THAT CAivIE OUT OF OUR CONVENTION DISCUSSION - PERHAPS TO­ GETHER WE CAN FIND AN ACCEPTABLE DEFINITION. - DEL MiWTIN twice married, aware of her own tendencies, and, like me, unwilling to admit them. We grew very close and Inti­ Behind the Borderline mate - I am speaking of confidences rather than physical experiences. This woman, too, took the conventional view of my admitted tendencies; she was not shocked by the I a» vory happy to sec that ny fable, "The House ou th e fa c t th a t 1 loved her, but attempted to persuade me that Borderland," has aroused so muoh awareness of one of the th is was an adolescent phase which I would soon grow out most painful problems in the homosexual world, the spe­ of. She also gave me (she was a medical student) text­ cial plight of the married Lesbian. Jan Fraser has told books on psychology and anatomy, feeling sire that I the other side of the story, and I am also glad to see was, as she said, sufficiently mature to talk myself out that there aw those who do not consider us pure freaks, of my childish fears of men. outlaws, or thrill-seekers (thrill-seekers, dear GodI Vihat we find is far from thrilling, believe me.K Largely at he r insistence, I allowed myself to become Intimate with a man. I had expected to feel shame and I have ceased to ask myself why I am a Lesbian, but dur­ self-dl sgust; to my surprise I found the experience nei­ ing the last few years I have tried unceasingly to under­ ther painful nor unpleasant; and if there was little stand why I am a married one. Those who understand me romantic satisfaction - well, the best psychological frequently ask, "Why did you narry?" How does a woman advice seemed to regard romantic love as an adolescent find herself in such an unholy predicament? For what and u n re a listic dream, anyhow, I f e l t , to quote the it's worth, I think my case is almost painfully typical. words of the hero of Mary Renault's THE CHARIOTEER, "Once I found out that I could if I put my mind to it, At th e age of six tee n I was w ell aware th a t I had homo- I felt I ral^t become naturalized, so to speak." sexvBl tendencies - more than this, having had no experi­ ence, 1 was not w illin g to admit i t . I was (there can One could therefore say I was misled by the very best be no harm in saying it) an intelligent and analytical psychological advice and by "excellent" sex instruction girl; I could hardly fall to bo aware that I was un­ on a college le v e l. Homosexual tendencies, so these interested in boys and that my passionate imagination excellent authorities Inforned me, were simply a passing dwelt not on Frank S in atra or Clark Gable, but on Rosa phase. And since I had discovered that I was quite Ponselle and Antoinette Conoello. The depth of my emo­ capable of having and enjoying physical relations with tion over a pretty redhead girl in one of my classes a man - at that stage of development, physical relations startled and shocked me; however, for ray geographical with a woman were s till a mystery to me - I regarded my­ location and my age, I had had what was regarded as an self, a. E, D., as cured of my adolescent propensities. excellent sex instruction; that is, I had been given adequate instruction for my age lim its and I was at N aturally I m arried. In the part of Texas where I now least aware of the major deviations from the average live, teen-age marriages are common: marriages of girls norms. Being, as I say, of an analytical turn of mind, fourteen and fifteen are not at all unusual, and the ^ rl I tended to regard my homosej^l tendencies as due main­ who delays marriage until her twenties is the exception ly to a classically traumatic experience, rape, in my rather than the rule. I was nineteen; my husband was early teens, at the hands of a trusted male relative. I more than twenty years my senior. I regarded this told myself that I had simply been scared witless. simply as an attempt to find a man who was Intelieotually my equal or superior; boys of my own age had no inter­ In college I rationalized my avoidance of boys my own ests, I told myself, except In the football team. age by telling myself I was there to get an education, not to oatoh myself a husband. About t f e t tim e I f e l l My first child was born less than a year after my mar­ into the bands of a woman considerably older than I, riage. I found narried life perfectly tolerable, preg- about her reproductive system before it springs some nancy enjoyable, and having a baby of my o«n a Joy I had painful surprises on her, but knowledge of the darker never even dreamed about. Even that classical tagaboo pitfalls of sex is still reserved for those over 21 - which Is supposed to create homosexuality, the fear o by which time i t i s too la te . childbirth, did not appear In toy case; ray son was born without anesthetics at my own request. To return to myself. At first I insisted I had only a writer's Interest, a strictly literary and p^chologioal Not u n til my son was p ast a year old and I was b e^ n n in g interest, in these deviations. Gradually I was forced to fret for another baby to replace my big boy did I to admit that my interest was personal; I had onee had begin to feel a vague unhappiness. To this day I fee homosexual tendencies. That I s t i l l had them I re so lu te ­ that if I had been kept busy with a baby every ten months, ly refused to adm it. I was a mature women who had grown my tendenices would never have returned. But th a t is out of them. I was happily married; or, if not happily, ■ idle speculation; obviously my inner emotions prevented at least the friction In my marriage arose out of the me from marrying the sort of man who would keep me busy vast age d ifference between my husband and me and had , producing babies and living the life of a busy hausfrau. nothing to do with ray past childish aberrations. All during this time I had been building myself a rea­ My fool's paradise came to an abrupt end when a little sonably successful career as a writer of adventure sto­ girl of fifteen, one of my music pupils, with whom I ries. My agent noticed a persistent homosexual cast in had the most innocent friendship possible, suddenly a l l of my w ritin g s, and when I was in my middle tw enties, married. (Marriages at fifteen, as I say, are common he began the task of helping me to understand myself. here.) I was outraged and firlous, telling myself that First he sent me various of the better gay novels, and this was merely righteous indignation at allowing a girl when I reacted to them as he expected - with Interest not yet out of high school to marry and be f oroed to taka which covered an almost desperate need for self-under­ on the responsibilities of a home. standing - he introduced me to sex Information on an adult level of the Kinsey variety. You must realize I gave the little thing a lovely wedding present, kissed that my supposedly excellent and full sex instruction the bride lovingly and the husband politely, promised to had been of the kind recommended by schools, churches, be godmother to her f i r s t ch ild , and went home crying no and the like; in short, it was of that conventional harder than I usually did at weddings. The trouble was, variety guaranteed not to offend even the strait-laced I didn't stop. I cried incessantly and continuously for and bigoted, and therefore leaving everything but the next four months until my husband, thoroughly alarmed, strictly conventional sex as a realm of chaotic outer sent'! me to the doctor for an overdue checkup. His w ell- darkness. meant ministrations were limited to a proscription fa- tranquilizers, a friendly pat on the arm, a suggestion And h ere , I must say, lie s the re a l tragedy. The books that a marriage between a man in his late fifties and a and manuals for_ adults only come far too late. The girl woman in her middle twenties might well be frustrating or the boy with homosexual tendencies needs information (even he oould realize that I was not happy), and desperately at the age of fourteen, not when he or she another suggestion that I talk over what was bothering is "over 21." By the age of 21, the girl is often mar­ me with a priest or with a woman friend. ried and the boy has made desperate and floundering experiments with women - and sometimes with men - which Slnoe I was not sure what was bothering me, I sat down have confirmed a pattern leading me to agree sometimes to try to figure i t out and came up with the most t e r ­ with the remark that all homosexuals are neurotic. How rifying answer possible, the answer which made it imposs­ could they be otherwise when they have no chance to grow ible to talk it over with priest or woman friend, and up as they are? It is considered necessary now (and which collapsed my comfortable card-house into a litter thank God for small mercies) to give a girl information of celluloid around me! namely, I had been In love with on the borderland, I know now, is a halfway house, a the little girl, under the high-minded pretense of being t er ml n al . a big sister and friend to the orphan. I didn't ask to be bisexual. X would much prefer, if If I were to detail all the things I called myself in the truth were told, to be one thing or the otter; and the next few weeks, t h i s pub licatio n would come under at my present stage of the game I wouldn't much care the intimate scrutiny of the postal authorities; "freak" which it was. My truest emotional level lies in the need was the least of ttem. One thing was certains I could I have - or seem to have - for o tte r women. Yet I some­ no longer hide my head in the sand and read my Issues of times tell myself that if my present frustrating marriage THE L1DD''R as an interested but detached outsider. ties were severed, if I were free to marry a man nearer my own age who could f i l l my l i f e with routine needs and I was still rationalizing. I told myself that-^y frus­ children, I might still be able to put homosexuality trating and imperfect marriage was at the bottom of my behind me forever. return to an adolescent manifestation (oh. Doctor Preu^l). However, I still cane smack up against unalterable fâct! Even as I say this, I knew it is false. If I were, with if my marriage was so frustrating, why hadn*t I been one savage effort and with anguish never to be measured, doing something about it? Why ha. I not been casting to sever all my ties in the world of women, to resolve longing looks a t our handsome young grocery clerks and severely never again to be more than casually friendly at the college boys who worked with my husband, rather with another woman - I should be ei then a hypocrite or than at my own music pupils, these little girls of fif­ a madwoman. teen and seventeen who were themselves at the threshold of marriage and motherhood? If my decadent tastes were Our society will either force an irrevocable choice on d is s a tis f ie d with a good and sincere man, why w asn't I me, or i t w ill destroy me. Right now I n eith er know nor daydreaming about an elopement with Clark Gable, ratter care which, I stand squarely at the crossroads, and the than listening dreamily to the voices of the sopranos traffic is hell. over the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts? - Miriam Gardner A rigorous analysis of my own past has shown me that my emotional tendencies v/ere well established long before the classical traumatic experience in my teens. I mar­ ried under the impression that homosexual tendencies were NEViS PROM FILM LAND . . . an adolescent phase. I allowed myself to be persuaded into marriage by a random b i t of data: the irre le v a n t According to VARIETY (August 10, i 960), "Blood and Roses," fact tte t I enjoyed sex relations with men. acquired for release by Paramount, has been taken off the distribution schedule for the time being without explana­ Perhaps circum stances might have allowed me to be blind tion. There are grounds for belief that censorship con­ sideration might be Involved, since the film concerns it­ forever. Being as I am, I prefer knowing the truth. Where I will go from the "house on the borderland," I self in part with a Lesblan - which is contrary to MPAA do not know. It is certain that I am not seeking "for­ Production Coda rules anent sex perversion. bidden thrills" In the "dark world." I know myself to Also of interest la tte note by Mike Connolly in the Aug­ be an Outcast there. And I am, as I stated in the fable, u st , i issue of THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, "George boxmd by strong tie s: a good and kind man, and a child 23 960 Cxikor w ill produce and d ire c t George A xelrod's 'Goodbye, ju s t reaching the age where a f a tte r i s most necessary. Charlie' with Marilyn Monroe as the men reincarnated as Wherever I go, I break at least one heart. But the house a woman." LESBIANA MATT ACHINE SOCIETY On Changing Sex Lows BY Ge n e Damon IVe tine fer * ehnan«, Thie stateaani It not to be Th i s column i s a co ntin u o u s bibliography o f b o o ks on t h e Le s b ia n oonstruB d as a politl oal slogan dir Ing this election THEiviE. Th e y a r e no t o f f b ^e o in t h e CXB book s e r v ic b y ear, but rath e r in re la tio n to our outmoded sex lavs. u n l e s s specifically n o ted a s s u c h . It Is the general oonolusion of the speakers at the 'J-th annual oonventlon of the Uattachlne Society held at the 149. Y0UN3 -MD INNOCENT BY EDWIN VEST. MONARCH BOOKS, CONN. Bellevue Hotel In San Pranoisoo over Labor Day weekend,

De s p i t e t h e m is l e a d in g information on t h e b l l r b t h is i s a Featured speaker for tie morning session was Joseph R. F IR S T NOVEL BY A FEMININE AUTHOR. DISREGARDING TEE USUAL Silver, Executive Director for the Northern California Service League. The League's work consists of helping FORMULA, "EDWIN ..EST" HAS ATTEMPTED TO SHOW THE INNER WORK- in the over-all rehabilitation of criminals, both during ' INGS OF A SUCCESSFUL LESBIAN MARRIAGE DISRUPTED BY A COMBI­ their Incarceration and afterward. NATION OF PETTY EVENTS AND THE SIMULTANEOUS APPEARANCE OF A DESIRABLE YOUNG G IR L . LAVIN IA CARTWRIGHT AND SANDRA KEEL Mr. Silver explained his organization's belief that ar­ a r e BOTH FULLY ADULT, INTELLIGENT WOMEN AND THE VMYS AND rest has many related effects. Rejection on the part of WHEREFORES OF THEIR LIV ES ARE THOROUGHLY EXAMINED AS THEY the oonmunlty is one of the f i r s t , Anotte r Is the de­ LIVE TOGETHER, AND SEPARATELY, THROUGH THE CRISIS OF LAVI- struction of self-esteem and -confidence, which stems N IA 'S B R IE F INTEREST IN ANOTHER WOMAN. AT THE PUBLISH ER'S from the assumption of guilt when one is arrested. A t INSISTENCE SOME OF T H IS NOVEL HAS POINTLESS A D D ITIV ES, BUT third oonoomltant Is that one who has been arrested often THE PRACTICED READER W ILL HAVE NO D IFFICU LTY IN SEPARATING loses his Job and/or has subsequent difficulties In se­ THE GOOD FROM THE BAD, COMMENDABLE FOR ITS UNUSUAL ASPECT curing and keeping employment. The Ncrthern California OF THE LESBIAN RELATIONSHIP, ONE HOPES TO SEE MORE FROM Service Leagim concerns Itself with solving such prob­ lems as these for the violator of the law and for the THIS AUTHOR. p aro lee.

(Th i s new book i s a v a il a b l e from DOB book s e r v ic e , JAIL IS 'BREEDING-PLACE' FOR CRIME 35^ PLUS ICV HANDLING.) An emphatic part of Mr. Silver's talk was his statement 150. BAUDELAIRE, lllvBAUD, VCRUINE: SELECTED VERSE AND PROSE that Jail Is "a breeding-place for crime." Jail - or POEMS, Ed it e d by J o sep h ivi, Be r n s t e in . C it a d e l , n. y . 1947* prison - deprives the violator of normal outlets In that there he has little or no chance to make decisions or to A WONDERFUL ANTHOLOGY FOR THE LESBIANA COLLECTOR. THIS do serious thinking. He therefore can not grow as a per­ CONTAINS AN EXCELLENT TRANSLATION OF ALL THREE OF BAUDE­ son during that period. The difficulty is getting peo­

L A IR E 'S Le s b ia n p o e m s ; "D amned «iiomen - ^1 and 2 , " and ple to see clearly all the effects of arrest was well

"L e s b o s . " Al s o i t o f f e r s t h e o n ly En g l is h t r a n s u t io n brought out by Karl Mennlnger's remark to the effect that it Is hard for a free fish to understand a hooked one. OF Ve r l a in e 'S o v e r t Le s b ia n p o e t r y : "On t h e Ba l c o n y ,"

"PER Am ig a S i l e n t ia , " "Y oung G ir l s a t Sc h o o l, " ah d " S a p p h o ." "The Northern C alifornia Service League," Mr, Silver WITH THE EXpEPTION OF RENEE VIVIEN, NO POET «ROTE AS EX­ stated, "is dedicated to the principle that people are P L IC IT Le s b ia n p o e t r y a s d id Ve r l a in e . in an "opposite-sex" atmosphere. The great question, human beings. There must be mutual respect and honesty continued Dr. Benjamin, is why some people who were between the violator and the oonwnunlly brought up in this way become thoroughly masculine or feminine despite the inconsistent background, and some LUNCHEON SPEAKER CITES '7 ' SEXES do not. His conclusion was that there must be some congenital, inborn predisposition toward masculinity Dr. Harry Benjamin, well-known endocrinologist and sex­ I or femininity. | ologist, brou^it much enlightenment and food for thought in h is speech, "The Seven Sexes of Man." He stated th a t The end result of these six determinants is the social modern research ers have given to the study of sex more sex. By this Dr. Benjamin meant that for the "normal" obscurity than li^ t. The seven sexes, according to Dr. man or woman there is no legal question of which sex Benjamin, mean seven concppts of the word "sex" - seven is dominant. For the others who do not fit into this ways of in te rp re tin g th e term . clear-out pattern, there is often condemnation by the law and society. So long as all people can not conform The fundamental, inherited sex can be analyzed by the to a specific social role, there must be either "priest- chromosome determ inants, fam iliarly known as the X and invented sin or artificially-created crime." y chromosomes. •LET’S CHANGE ODR OUTMODED SEX LA”'S' Prom there it is possible to consider anatomical sex, which consists of all the primary and secondary sex A star-studded, provocative panel, with Mrs. Molly Minu- c h a r a c te r is tic s to g eth er, making up the male or female drl, San Fremoisco attorney, acting as moderator, stressed being. the need to re-examine our outmoded sex laws d irin g the afternoon session. Third is the legal sex - the "nursery" sex determined for each new-born baby. This may not correspond to the Mrs. Bernice Engle, research assistant of the Langley Por­ genetic sex, for it is subject to change or alteration. ter Psychiatric Clinic of the University ot California The very fact that secondary (outward) sex character­ School of Medicine, spoke of t he recent vote of the English istics can be changed is alone justification for legal Parliament on whether to confirm the Wolfenden Report and change, said Dr. Benjamin, although such legal change make homosexual acts between consenting adults legal, or at is usually difficult to bring about. least not criminal in natire. The vote was approximately 2 to 1 against the resolution. After the issue was decided Sndoorinal sex for all is mixed; there is some of the in Parliament, tte newspapers and magazines throughout Eng­ male and some of tte female in each person. We are all land made much of the point. The opinion in general was "intersexes," but take a masculine or feminine role that more time was needed, as were research and public edu­ chiefly from the primary sex characteristics. cation, and th a t i t must be determined once and for a l l vihether homosexuality Is a sin or a crime. Still another way of regarding sex is to consider the germinal make-up. The germinal sex determines whether "One of my chief concerns is with individuals' or groups one will contribute sperm or egg in the process of re- pushing otters around," Dr. Joseph Andriola, psychoanalyst production* from Atascadero State Hospital, declared.

Dr. Benjamin spoke at length on the sixth concept, the The Puritan behavior of some people deprives others of a psychological sex. Early conditioning, he explained, livelihood, he said, and this is an "evil thing." On the is important in creating a split-sex personality — a otter hand, flaunting one’s homosexualily cannot help the mind-body conflict. Psychological counseling is usually conflict at all. Homosexuals ou^ not to be dlserlmi- in v a lid in bringing in to harmony one who has been reared natsd against; yet they must learn to cooperate with the a given situation arousing enough public opinion to war­ whole of society. rant tightening up of existing laws. LACK OP INFORMATION BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCK TOTAL REVIEW OP SEX LAWS NEEDED A. Phillip Burton, attorney and California assemblyman, "We need a tota.1 review of our sex laws," he stated, "with stated, "The biggest stumbling block in society's solving the problem of sex laws is lack of information." punishment in relation to the offense."

"Punishment as a deterrent to crime has been a failure Public discussion and debate are valuable in breaking since the beginning of time," Dr. Allen said. The matter down the b a rrie rs , he pointed out. Enough of such a c t i ­ of guilt and punishment go hand in hand, and punishmont vity may eventually result in something comparable to very often adds to crime. Punishment must be as instanta­ the Wolfenden Report - a commission perhaps to study the neous as burning your finger by fire or it will not work. problem in the legislature.

Dr. David W. Allen, professor of psychiatry at the thil- SODOMY LAWS DISCUSSED versity of California School of Medicine, said that as a Mrs. Minudri pointed out that sodomy is a felony in some physician he was not only concerned with furthering of states and a misdemeanor in others and that the penalty the Wolfenden Report, but also with the problem of mis­ imposod was also v aria b le. conceptions about homosexuality. The homosexual's idea of the problem between himself and society Is an Illu­ Dr. Andrlola expressed his opposition to sodomy laws as sory thing, for much of the problem lies within the in­ extremely unreasonable. "I only went to college for 8 d iv id u a l. years, and I still can't understand the language of^^the law. What is this 'infamous crime against nature'?" "I don't think that changes in the law will solve the entire problem," he stated. Mrs. Engle oonslderod sodomy as neltther natural or un­ natural and suggested it be permitted between hetero­ LEGISLATURE GOVERNED BY 'PEOPLE BACK HOME' sexuals as well as homosexuals. As a means of making legal "so-called deviate acts" between oensenting adults John A. O'Connell, attorney and California assemblyman, she hoped that a state congress similar to the Wolfenden pointed up the difficulties encountered by the state committee could be formed and th a t proposals of the Model legislature in enacting more reasonable and equitable Penal Code of the American Law Institute be considered. sex laws.

HETEROSEXUAL 'DEVIATION' POINTED OUT "The people back home have a Puritanical attitude toward sex," he said, "Vfe have the problem of overcoming this "We would have Just as much difficulty In getting votes opposition. We can't espect drastic changes without con­ for permissiveness for heterosexuals as homosexuals. Wo siderable support from the community as a whole." prefer to deal with a total program. Half-way measures are not feasible," Mr. Burton said. "It is one thing to say something should be done; it is quite another to translate this into votes." Mrs. Engle countered, "But if we take up the question of deviations in a heterosexual relationship first, wouldn t Mr. Burton pointed out that "the penal code grew like Topsy." There are no well conceived or well defined standards. The legislature is literally dependent ipon this tend to ease tho shook In the homosexual situation?"

Tihlle such a basis fo r discussion might bo more p alata b le to the legislature, it must be remembered, Mr. O'Connell pointed out, that legislators are not in a position to bo "fo r sin and against God and country." »0 must have a - I would lik e to comment on Florence C onrad's a r t i c l e , broad based conmunlty support to make it easy for the 'In Defense of "Defense"', in the August issue of THE legislature to vote. The legislators are ahead of public LADDER. My remark during the convention forum on \7hy opinion, and yet public opinion must bo brought to bear the Lesbian?' concerning the need to forego self-Justi­ upon "the legislaturo* fication before society was made to a specific question that was asked. I was unable to amplify the point at Mr. Burton concurred. "Leadership in the intellectual that time, as I would like to have done, bec aome I was community will ease the pressure on legislators," aware that, taken literally, the counsel might be as antagonistic to the alms and purposes of ^ ^ h t - Elaine Kingston of B1litis. This was far from my intention at that t .

-If I could have explained my point further, I doubt if I would have been able to do so as thoroughly and as satlsfvlnKly as Florence Conrad did in her excellent CORRIGENDA FOR article. There is that which needs defending, "SOME COMPARISONS BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE HOMOSEXUALS" is that which does not need defense. Creative effort THE LADDER, SEPTEMBER IjiO can come only when one is able to distinguish between the two. I am g rate fu l to Miss Conrad for her able (New or changed language is underlined.) clarification of this point, and I hope that your rea will reflect deeply on her words." P. 6, 2nd paragraph, end of third line should read: "But LEO J. ZEFF, Ph.D. of those of each group who attended college" 7058 Berkeley, California P, 9, 2nd paragraph, 5th line should road: "well-edu­ cated male homosexuals"

P. 11, 3 rd paragraph, following heading "III. Family His­ thank TOU, MISS ALDRICH tory" Should read; "Family background of the men's group Your slap at THE LADDER has boomerangedj Aside from the seems somewhat more stable than th a t of th e women: As Figure III shows. 72^ of the men were reared by both par­ h... b..„ pourlP. 1»« ents, compared to only 65^ of the women." ¿a Office. One letter addressed simply to ®^"Shter p, 16, 2nd paragraph, 1st sentence should read: "Friends litis, San Francisco, California" reached us. Another of the men are reported to be mostly homosexual in about 1 / 3 of the replies, mostly heterosexual in of them, 3” « . F PU ..*"« the Great Debate (Ann Aldrich vs. THE LADDER). and evenly mixed In 50^*" "As it was pointed out, Ann Aldrich is controversial, P, 18, 1st paragr^h, next to last sentenoe should begLnt "Furthermore, some ofthe_ 46^ of men • » ." help, I received the August issue of THE LADDER. I foun but If It hadn't been for her remarks In CAROL oonoern- it very interesting and enjoyed your editorial on Mayor ing your organization and THE LADDER^ I wouldn't have Christopher. I have great hopes for your crusade because known you existed, I have a fair enough mind to reserve this is the age of struggle for the rights of all man­ opinions of euiythlng and anyone, so Ann's orltlolsms kind - and the minorities are proving not so minor, didn't make too muoh Impression. a fte r t i l l

"Mostly I'm Just writing this to say DOB makes life a little brighter for one surrounded by heteros. After two marriages and two children, I'm finally waking up to the facts - unfortunately, too late. Ann Aldrich Indicts DOB "So thanks, Ann, anyway. You did me a servloe, for DOB and Its book servloe make life a little easier an

A. B., California read the COMPLETE STORY

Which a ll began a lon£. time ago with THE LADDER'S "Open Letter to Ann Aldrich" published In April, 1958. "Wheel L e t's a l l get Into the brawlS Suoh a b ellig e re n t LADDER th is tim e. With the June, I 96O edition of CAROL IN A THOUSAND CITIES (Gold Medal Book, Fawcett P ublications, In c ., Greenwich, "For Heaven's sake, how can anyone say that the Anns Conn.), Miss Aldrich has finally made her reply. She A ldrich and Bannon are the same? Miss Bannon w rites a takes THE LADDER apart "rung by rung" or issue by issue good story In an excellent style and a sympathetic manner; during 1958. Miss Aldrich Is a poor writer with a big, fat chip on her shoulder. Ann Bannon Is our friend; Ann Aldrich certain­ The whole story is available through DOB Book Servloe: ly Is not. CAROL IN A THOUSAND CITIES - 5° cents plus "Unless this is a case of a very spllt-up Dr. Jekyll and 10 cents handling Mrs. Hide, I don't see how they could possibly be the same. For shame, Jeannette Foster, to say suoh things OPEN LETTER TO ANN ALDRICH (A pril, 1958 about Ann Bannon! issu e of THE LADDER) - 5° cents

"I'll bet the reason A. A. tore 1958 to pieces was that Complete f ile of THE LADDER for 1958 - $4 after that, there wasn't anything poor enough to bother w ith. Everyone says THE LADDER'S g ettin g b e tte r . Guess THE LADDER'S rep ly to Miss Aldrich (August, i t must be tr u e ." i 960) - 50 cents

J. L., California SEND YOUR ORDER HOW to

• • * * • DOB Book Service 165 0'Farrell St., Rm. 405 "After writing to the Daughters of B llitis for more in­ San Francisco 2, C alifornia formation regarding your group and asking how I might "After Lesbians read CAROL I'm sure Aldrich will f«®! "I thought there was much too mueh ado over Ann A ldrloh- in the position of the person who gave birth to the old Bannon. She's proof that automation has reached the Islamic saying, quote: 'There go my people. I must literary (?) field, I don't believe she exists at all hurry after them, for I am their leaderl' but is really a creation by 1, B, M, ANN CARLL REID (Former Editor C, L. C alifo rn ia of ONE Magazine, California

* » • * *

"Just finished ohuokllng over your August 'Ann Aldrich' "Have Just read CAROL IN A THOUS AND CITIES and "^ n 't h ^ P issu e . After reading Miss A' 8 f i r s t two books I gave .b, bb. -l..r l.b.r.d .. t. oU.b bMlDm up wondering whose side she was on; and a f te r her la te s t - and so painstakingly! I congratulate you on your remarkable restraint. For myself, all I can say ds, it's a good thing people " I t seems to me i t ' s common knowledge the stu ff shown in aren't mind readers^ Dr. Poster's theory on the lady's your little vehicle Isn't of the finest quality and that s p lit p erso n a lity is most in te re s tin g . I f Annie would to criticize it so wantonly would not only put emphasis stop Judging all Lesbians by herself, she'd be pleas­ on its mediocrity (of which I feel » « « ' f f J " antly surprised. THE LADDER would De the first to agree), j + tb. „dlobrlW bf "rlbl. «.o b.tb.r.d tt "I hadn't yet discovered DOB in 1958, but have been sean i t - and so , so metleulouslyl reading THE LADDER since June, 1959» and I'm afraid our orphan Just landed on the wrong planet. Of course, I didn't like every article, but didn't expect to. If PRINTING NOW COMPLiETED everyone had the same tastes, this would be a pretty monotonous world. A Landm urk in the Legal Right» o f Homo»exual»

"Your pro and oon stories on the married Lesbian are q uite good, and I hope you continue them. While I have THE RIGHT DF ASSOCIATION never run into this situation, I do have very definite A California “Gay Bar” Case ideas about it; have always believed you can't have your cake and eat it, too. Am now beginning to think One hundred and thirty four pages of ^ I have been guilty of unfairness, hence the request for DddsiU ol bildis, more sides to the picture." Mattachine Society; many others. . i v mivnn- M. J. H., Illinois TV.P romolete briefs of attorneys Morris & Juliet Lowenthal, Karl U. Lyon, r X u t a b f ™ . Di..rib, J u r . of Appe.1; .he Decisibb .1 Supreme Court of California; etc. . c j • Everyone interested in human rights should own it. bend copies to at­ "Have Just fin ish ed reading CAROL IN A THOUSAND CITIES. torneys, police chiefs and others. Let us remember that the author writes for cold cash, ONE Institute Quarterly: HomophUe Studies, dumber 8, I960. no cause. Price $4 per copy: for ten or more copi^ $3 each. IpcMeTin XripUon l.r 1«». I'" "I believe Ur. (?) Ann Aldrloh-Vln Packer would like to be considered foremost in the field of Lesbian litera­ ONE, Inc., 232 S. Hill St., Los Angeles 12, Calif. ture - and is fast losing out. "It looks to this reader as though the author oaleulated small daughters, a charming husband, and, as you will to use the little anthology as propaganda, the Insertions note from the postmark on this envelope, live far from New York City, which town Miss Aldrioh-Paoker knows and of which were neither offensive nor objectionable In tone. To this I have no beef. Yes, the collection was. reports on far better than I. In my opinion, quite good. "1 had a b rief acquaintance with Miss Aldrich several years ago at the start of my writing career, in which she "But the clobbering might well have been supplanted by very kindly encouraged mo. Perhaps my earlier books re­ the kind of story the writer claims Is not now appearing flect her influence; that's something I'm not qualified In your little format. Don't you think so?" to Judge. At any rate. Miss Aldrich is a very capable V. B. C alifo rn ia w riter and an in te llig e n t g ir l.

"But I have not seen or corresponded with her for a con­ siderable length of time to date, and her views and mine with respect to THE LADDER are entirely opposed. I'm all "I am truly surprised - and a bit disappointed - that you for you, believe it or not, for what you are trying to allowed Jeannette Foster's 'Ann of 10,000 Words Plus' to accomplish, and for the dignity and sincerity of your be printed within the pages of THE LADDER. I read Miss effort. And, may I please add, I did not even know yqu Aldrich's criticism of THE LADDER, and I found it ex» existed until early this year when some of ray readers tremely amusing and entertaining - and a little ridicu­ took the trouble to tell mo about you. I not only didn't lous. I expected to find in THE LADDER'S response to write those disparaging remarks in CAROL IN A THOUSAND Miss Aldrich's 'expose' a logical, factual rebuttal of CITIES, Miss A ldrich's now book, which s a tiriz e the 1958 her statements, and Del Martin did this Very satisfac­ Issues of THE LADDER; I couldn't have. The first issue to r ily . I ever saw was dated June, i 960,

"However, the status of THE LADDER as a respectable maga- "Believe me, I don't know whether to laugh or ory about rlne dropped several points with the publishing of Miss this mix-up, and no doubt Miss Aldrich doesn't either. Poster's disgusting bit of name-calling, mud-slinging She is probably as dismayed as I to find that some, at propaganda. What do you think you will achieve by least, consider our fiction indlstinguishablo. While I carrying on a 'You're-More-Rldlculous-Than-I-Am' cam­ have respect for her talent and aohloveraent, she would paign? Are you trying to win a battle of sarcasm with agree with me that the two of us oould hardly be more Ann Aldrich, or are you trying to gain respectability different, both temperamentally and in our attitudes and aooeptanoe for your magazine and ultimately for the toward Lesbians and Lesbianism. Le sbian?" "I c a n 't speak for Miss Aldrich, but most of my own M. S., California 'searing' adventures take place between my ears. I'm sorry my writing strikes so eminent a student and author ***** as Dr. Poster as slick and dysenteric. If she's right. Incidentally, my piggy bank should bo a hell of a lot "I've been wondering why my friendly little subscription fuller than it is. I have never been psychoanalyzed, note was never acknowledged. Your August issue arrived either subjectively or objectively. today and answered the question. Ladles all, I beg your pardon: I am not now, never have been, and have no in ­ "My stories are not meant as 'messages' for a waiting tention of becoming, Ann Aldrloh-Vln Packer. I am Just world. I live in a stucco house, and undress in front p la in Ann Bannon - no re la tio n , no connection; Just the of my typewriter. It knows mo so well by this time, same publisher. Honest to God, Dr. Poster. I have two it couldn't care less. »'All those WOMEN In the title s of ny books were put there BILITIS by market-minded odltors* I don't object to the harem - i B S H k INCORPOR A T E D natch - but I might point out to Dr. Poster that my own t i t l e s , with one exception, wore fa r more circum spect, and completely sexless. Ergo, uncommercial. And they were Junked in favor of the flavorsome ones you're NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS and San Francisco Chnpter: I65 O’FarreU familiar with. Street, Room 405, San Francisco 2, Califomia New York Chapter: 1133 Broadway, Room 304, New York 10, New York. "I have never Judged or defiled anybody, to my know­ Los Angeles a t 4>ter: P. O. Box 3904, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, ledge, of any sex, or none whatsoever; and I wish to dis­ California. sociate myself completely from Miss Aldrich's personal in the Daughters of B ilius is limited to women 21 years opinions vls-a-vls THE LADDER, DOB, and homosexuals in MEMBERSHIP general. In fa c t, I have often recommended THE LADDER of age or older. If in San Francisco, New York or Los Angeles area, to some of the frustrated and/or lonely and curious direct in<|niry to chapter concerned; otherwise write to National Office people who take the trouble to write me - and there are in San Francisco. a good many. t h e LADDER: a monthly publication by the DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS, INC., mailed in a plain sealed envelope for $4.00 per year. "In closing, may I thank you for offering my four novels for sale to your readers through the DOB Book Service. CONTRIBUTIONS are gratefully accepted from anyone who wishes to I hope they w ill not act as la x a tiv e s on the sto u t souls assist us in our work. We are a non-profit corporation working entirely on who peruse them - and will bring you much profit and donated labor. Our fees are not of such amounts as to allow for much p le asu re." expansion of the publication. While men may not become members of the DAUGHTERS OF BILITIS, INC., many have expressed interest in out ef­ ANN BANNON, C alifo rn ia forts and our publication and have made contributions to further our work. Of course, anyooe over 21 years of age may subscribe to THE LADDER. DOB Book Service Presents-

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