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The Homosexual in America is really an anthropological study written by 'one of the natives': how the homosexual thinks and lives and what are his social customs. The book could be regarded from another angle, as an interesting study of the interaction of psychological and social pressures and how a vicious circle results; the homosexual's behaviour is exaggerated and, in turn, shocks society so that he is ostracized even more stringently and is driven to really anti-social conduct which in itself has little to do with homosexuality. One of the most interesting sections is Chapter XIII which tells of the difficulties of a permanent union between homosexuals.
The author puts up a very good case for the repeal of laws against homosexuality; he also shows that homosexuality in America has become one of the minority problems like the Jewish and the Negro questions. The author has studied psycho-analytic literature on homosexuality and refers to it frequently. With some psycho-analytic conclusions he agrees, but others he would like to modify.
This book, though somewhat overlong, is a sincere and courageous attempt to face up to the problems of homosexuality. It has a special message for homosexuals and its perusal might well give physicians and teachers an insight into a thorny question.