OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mattachine Society, Inc.____

P0ST OFFICE BOX 1925 MAIN POST OFFICE LOS ANGELES 53, CALIFORNIA

January 1, 1955

Publications Director Mattachine Society, Inc. Post Office Box 259 San Francisco 1, Calif.

Dear Sir:

It has been almost two years since the Mattachine Society was organized (from the former Foundation). During this brief period, ideas about the organization and its members have come along such faster than the membership itself. Many of these ideas have been completely false and have led to additional barriers to be overcome. This has distracted from the principles upon which Mattachine was founded--research and education of the sex-variant himself and of society at large.

We earnestly hope that the MATTACHINE REVIEW will go a long way toward giving readers the true facts of the Mattachine Society and the place of the sex variant in the life of the community. Progress is being made in bringing to light the causes and reasons involved in the everyday realities of a variant's life -- adjustment to his responsibilities as a citizen and his emotional security.

The truth--good or bad--will be the policy of the REVIEW in helping to make everyone cognizant of the facts. In printing the truth we will not strive for sensationalism but rather maintain an intelligent and rational approach on a very emotional subject. We believe that “actions speak louder than words": we must all act in the public interest at all times and in all places. By enabling people to read the truth concerning the sex variant, it is our desire to serve them by acting in the public interest.

You, your staff, and the many others who have had a part in this project of the Mattachine Society have had an almost insurmountable task at times, and your worries have only begun with this first issue. But all of you can take some consolation in the sincere gratitude of the members of the Society for the success of a vision that will grow and accomplish noble ideals upon which Mattachine was founded. Congratulations on a job well done!

Fraternally yours,

CHAIRMAN

Board of Directors

ON OUR COVER: Taken from a letter written by Jefferson in 1816 to Samuel Kercheval and engraved in stone at the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, D.C.