The Daily Agenda for Friday, December 30

Jim Burroway

December 30th, 2011

I don’t have anything lined up for today. No birthdays or happenings in history on the calendar, and not much had been happening generally this month with gay community/organizations/celebrations, etc. I’ve been spending much of my own time off from work between the holidays doing a lot of historical research for a major side project that I’ve been working on. As part of that side project, I’ve gained a new appreciation for what gay people have gone through throughout the past two centuries of an emerging awareness of what has been variously labeled adhesiveness, degeneracy, psychopathia sexualis, uranism, contrary sexual instinct, sexual inversion and homosexuality, a term which had not quite taken hold when this sad letter to the editor was printed in the July 1919 edition of The American Journal of Urology and Sexology:

A PLEA FROM AN INVERT

To The Editor:

A plea to be heard before it is too late — will you not listen and perhaps advise me? If you only knew how I need help!

I am a misfit. I am a young man who has never cared for any women. Am I to blame because God has given me a feminine nature? Why should I be shunned by all people, loathed by them I

I am clean and refined, am well educated in the fine arts and have high ideals concerning all things. And yet men who are covered with filthy sores from evil living, who have never had a decent thought or ideal in their lives, sneer at me. I am an outcast: I am lower than the lowest!

What few who are kind to me are women who have praised me for my high ideal concerning life.

Because the custom is not that two men shall marry, is it so wrong? If I love and respect a friend and he loves me, is it not as pure a marriage as between a man and woman; and far more equal?

I wish I had a friend to go and live with, to work out our ideals, and to grow in every way. Yet this has made me accursed among men; I am damned to a living hell!

Must I — who have denied myself almost too much, to become worthy of the highest friendship — must I forever walk alone?

Is there aught but beauty in the love of Marius and Cornelius in “Marius the Epicurian” by Walter Pater? Is Marius to be considered vile, because he had that “feminine refinement” that made him idealize life, that led him finally to the Christian faith and martyrdom?

I am alone and tired. Is it not a sad thing that I and many other young men who are worthy of much, should have but one hope — that Death shall come soon!

I need advice. If some young man among your readers might write to me! Do you not think we would save each other?

You must not believe me physically or mentally deficient — though I am near to suicide! — Homo.

One thing that is apparent in going through the historical record is how rare it is to read the writings of gay people themselves. Most of the literature was written by straight men talking about gay men and women. Most of the writings by gay people themselves was keep private and secret between friends (see yesterday’s Agenda for an example), or if it was published, it was published privately and circulated among friends.

A century later, we live in an era where any queen with half an opinion and a quarter capacity for spelling can start his own blog. And we are also beginning to see the kind of progress that this young man from 1919 could scarcely dream of: marriage equality is slowly making its appearance in the land of the (mostly) free. There is much to be thankful for, and there is still a lot of work left to do.

If you know of something that belongs on the agenda, please send it here. Don’t forget to include the basics: who, what, when, where, and URL (if available).

And feel free to consider this your open thread for the day. What’s happening in your world?

jpeckjr

December 30th, 2011

Jim, thank you for your Daily Agenda. I’ve written before to say how much I appreciate the historical notes.

This letter was heart-wrenching, all the more because there are, even today, men and women who could write this letter, make this plea for understanding, acceptance, friendship, and love. All the more reason to be persistent in working to make those things real in our time, and live them in our own lives.

Eom

December 30th, 2011

Powerful stuff.

I sincerely hope the writer was able to find the happiness he was looking for.

Ben In Oakland

December 30th, 2011

Well, it isn’t exaqctly gay, but sorta.

and Jim, you’re old enough to remember…

TINY TIM!!!!

It’s his birthday!

AlexH

December 30th, 2011

Happy New Year, Jim Burroway, and the rest of the BTB crew!

And this is a very powerful find. How eloquently the writer of the letter was able to express himself.

Although I can find a million things to bitch about in the world today, I can honestly say that for us gay people (at least here in the US & UK) we’re very fortunate to be alive in this time. We might not have all the rights we want, we’ll get those eventually, but we’ve got a hell of a lot more than our LGBT brothers and sisters had in the past.

Like Eom wrote above, I also hope that the writer found happiness.

And I can’t wait to hear more about this project you’re working on, Jim. :)

Ryan

December 30th, 2011

I love this! Thanks for posting.

Stephen

December 31st, 2011

“A century later, we live in an era where any queen with half an opinion and a quarter capacity for spelling can start his own blog.”

Shame on you.

Ben In Oakland

December 31st, 2011

Actually, for many, a quarter of an opinion and F7 is all you need.

Leave A Comment

All comments reflect the opinions of commenters only. They are not necessarily those of anyone associated with Box Turtle Bulletin. Comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

(Required)
(Required, never shared)

PLEASE NOTE: All comments are subject to our Comments Policy.

 

Latest Posts

The Things You Learn from the Internet

"The Intel On This Wasn't 100 Percent"

From Fake News To Real Bullets: This Is The New Normal

NC Gov McCrory Throws In The Towel

Colorado Store Manager Verbally Attacks "Faggot That Voted For Hillary" In Front of 4-Year-Old Son

Associated Press Updates "Alt-Right" Usage Guide

A Challenge for Blue Bubble Democrats

Baptist Churches in Dallas, Austin Expelled Over LGBT-Affirming Stance

Featured Reports

What Are Little Boys Made Of?

In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.

Slouching Towards Kampala: Uganda’s Deadly Embrace of Hate

When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.

Paul Cameron’s World

In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.

From the Inside: Focus on the Family’s “Love Won Out”

On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.

Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"

The Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing The Myths

At last, the truth can now be told.

Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!

And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.

Testing The Premise: Are Gays A Threat To Our Children?

Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.

Straight From The Source: What the “Dutch Study” Really Says About Gay Couples

Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.

The FRC’s Briefs Are Showing

Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.

Daniel Fetty Doesn’t Count

Daniel FettyThe FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.