The homosexual in America : a subjective approach

D. Cory, E. Sagarin

Socio- en psychologische studie, gebaseerd op schrijvers eigen ervaringen als homosexueel in Amerika. - In its original (1951) edition, The Homosexual In America was the first widely-read book in the U.S. to demonstrate the legal, social and economic discrimination leveled against an "amazingly large" segment of the American population and to put forward a strong defense of homosexual rights and a view of homosexuals as "the unrecognized minority." Writing pseudonymously but "as a homosexual", the author describes aspects of the Gay subculture, examines reasons for social hostility, and surveys anti-homosexual provisions in the penal code and their adverse social consequences. In spite of his civil libertarian stand against the persecution of homosexuals, whose "worst effect" has been homosexual self-contempt, Cory accepts a traditionally negative view of the causation of homosexuality, feeling it arises from "lack of a well-balanced home", especially an "unusually strong attachment for one parent". Such views may begin to explain Cory's later defection from the homosexual liberation movement. The Homosexual In America was extremely important in bringing the topic of homosexuality into more open and informed discussion, in encouraging the early homophile movement and influencing its thinking. The book deals preponderantly with male homosexuality; appendices include U.S. government documents and a checklist of literary works. In his New Introduction Cory states his judgment that homosexuality is essentially less desirable than heterosexuality; homosexuality, he says, constitutes a symptom of neurosis, which, however, does not justify social persecution and the denial of civil rights.