http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/376913516

Voyage from Lesbos

"The main reason I have written a book about homosexuality is that it is a subject which is grossly misunderstood by the layman, the physician and, in many instances, even the psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. There is a shroud of mystery about it just as there is about many other sexual subjects. The point of view of society is almost universally one of condemnation, which leaves little room for understanding and objectivity. Homosexuality is still considered a crime in almost all states and a person caught in a homosexual act can be prosecuted and imprisoned. There are a number of things that I believe will become evident on getting to know the patient whose psychoanalysis is described in this book. One is that a homosexual is not "queer" or biologically different from anyone else. There is no physiological or hormonal problem involved. It will also become evident that any person, despite the finest inherited mental and physical equipment, can become homosexual if exposed to certain environmental conditions in childhood. One can truthfully say about any homosexual, "There but for the grace of God go I." If one can divest oneself of prejudice and look at homosexuals calmly, scientifically and objectively, ideas of their immorality, weakness or degeneracy become ridiculous and completely untenable. I hope that, after reading this book, the layman will see that it makes about as much sense to punish a person thus for homosexuality as it does to take him to court for having pneumonia, tuberculosis or coronary disease"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).

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