t h e ÎMddêJi 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 .