A Deplorable Situation Demanding Our Attention

By The Editor

I'M sure that all of you have read or heard about the recent scandal in Washington when a leading figure in our government had his name linked to the homosexuals. This, of course, is not an isolated case, but this one was brought to the public eye, probably because of the political campaign more than any thing else. Reports over the years have indicated that there are and have been a large number of homosexuals in our government. Some time back newspapers carried a report of a large number being discharged because of this.

Washington, of course, is not the only city infested with this abnormal condition. Every city in America has thousands of them and even our small towns are becoming infested.

We are not prepared to say what causes this abnormal approach to sex, even though we might have our ideas. The psychologists may say that it is a disease-a disease of the mind and emotions. We only know that it is evil and is approaching epidemic proportions. We are very much alarmed by it.

Some years ago we carried several very strong editorials about this because at that time it seemed to be infesting our own field of bodybuilding and weightlifting. The photographers at shows began catering to these people and they would come to the shows and make themselves obnoxious. It was a very dangerous situation, dangerous to our field of bodybuilding, health culture and strong man and lifting sports. We felt that if we did not clean up our game the government would eventually step in and do it for us and in a manner not to our liking.

Fortunately the A.A.U. Weightlifting and Mr. America committees became very much aware of this; we discussed it in our committee meetings and considered means for eliminating this unsavory atmosphere from a game we all loved and felt had much to offer mankind. Due to the determination our committee showed these abnormal men were watched carefully. They were never allowed to take photos at the shows if they were known to be homosexuals or catering to these men. The shows were carefully policed and these men were kept away from the physique men and lifters as much as possible. The physique men and lifters were warned about them so they could avoid them. In some instances these homosexuals were not allowed to attend the athletic, variety, lifting and physique shows if they were known. Of course this created some scenes but it was unavoidable.

As a result of this and other methods used to make it known in no uncertain terms that these men were not welcome, conditions improved greatly, to a point where we seldom heard anything mentioned about these men. It became a very minor problem. It would seem, however, that we are again invaded and we must again enter a campaign to protect our sport from these peoples' degrading influence. We must return to our tactics of policing shows. We must make every effort to eliminate all photographers and others who are not of proven character. Above all, we must warn our lifters and physique men concerning these "homos." The young and inexperienced bodybuilders are in special danger. They should never become too friendly with strangers who have not been recommended to them by a man of experience and character in the game. They should never accept invitations to visit anyone's room. They should never accept rides. They should never allow anyone to photograph them who is not recommended to them by some official of high character and knowledge. These young fellows are told that they will be photographed free of charge; that they will become famous and that they will have their photos in all magazines. They are told that they can make money by allowing their photos to be sold. They are tricked into signing releases and other such things. They are told that they should pose in the nude because this is the classical way. They are told that any garment will break the fluid and graceful lines of their physiques and that after the photos are taken the photographer will paint in the trunks (of course this is never done). These nude photos are then taken and sold to homosexuals. Not all photographers engaged in this unlawful practice are homosexuals themselves. They do, however, find it profitable to cater to the photo demands of homosexuals. (We want to make some exceptions here by stating that most physique and lifting contest photographers are men of high character and very much respected in their field and by the officials, lifters and physique men.)

Many times the nefarious photographers will not ask to take photos in the nude but will ask the young fellow to wear revealing garments. In many instances this is even worse. If the young fellow is agreeable, there will be other photographic appointments until hundreds of photos are taken. These will be sold and frequently this same young man will, by devious means known to homosexuals, be converted to homosexual habits.

Of course this is only one of the means they use to attain their desires. This applies to the bodybuilding, weightlifting, and I may say, the entire athletic field. I have had people write to me that they were faced with a similar problem in their field of activity. These homos use other means of victimizing the unwary and adding thousands and possibly millions to their numbers. It has become almost a national disaster. Of course it is also prevalent in other countries; even worse than here, in some of them, we understand.

It is not just the single men (and women) who are homosexuals. Many marriages go on the rocks because one of the partners has homo tendencies.

Generally these people are law abiding, intelligent, well educated, respected citizens except for this one factor in their lives.

They keep pretty much to themselves (except for converting new people to their way of life). Many leading citizens in every town and city of America are homosexuals. Many high men in our government, industry, science, medicine, law, are homosexuals. Many people in our educational systems -- teachers, professors, etc., are known to be homosexuals. Many people of wealth are of this type. No man or woman in any station of life is immune to it.

We in the magazine field are especially aware of the dangers, because there are today far more magazines catering to homosexuals than there are legitimate publications in the health field. The problem is twofold. First, the newsstands make no distinctions as to the display of the publications and they will display the legitimate magazines along with the homo mags and the legitimate health publications are tainted by association. In addition to this, when some group sets itself the task of cleaning up the newsstands and censoring the reading available to the public, they neither care nor are they generally able to separate the good from the bad. As a result, the legitimate publications which have the good of their readers in mind are prosecuted along with the bad.

My wife and I have gone into the cities where these homosexual magazines are sold by a dozen or more different titles. Little books with illustrations of nude or nearly nude teen agers -- skinny kids who have hardly a muscle on them, in suggestive poses. These little booklets are sold for ridiculously high prices and we are told by distributors that they sell better than any other publication. At one time these publications outsold, by far, the legitimate publications devoted to health and bodybuilding and I assume they still do.

We look at the display and then we see Iron Man among them and we get sick at heart -- no actually sick at the stomach to see our magazine which has meant so much to us and our readers through the years, associated with this filthy trash.

Several times we have considered taking Iron Man off the news stands just on this account. To do this would greatly limit our circulation, which even now is much too low to reach the people we would like to with our message of clean, healthful living and high Christian ideals and moral principles. America needs more of the right kind of publications -- not less.

We appeal to every reader to assist us in cleaning up this situation. We hope that every reader who buys Iron Man on the news stands will show this article to the proprietor and ask that he place Iron Man in another section. We would also appreciate it if you would report any stands that persist in placing Iron Man with homo magazines. There just isn't any connection or relationship. If this cannot be done we will attempt to stop magazines going to stands who persist in associating Iron Man with the homo mags.

Many years ago we stopped carrying all ads for photos. We have relaxed this slightly in some instances only when we know the photographer or athlete and can vouch for his character and can personally inspect the photos and film he wishes to sell.

We long ago refused to accept or publish photos of athletes who were not dressed in respectable trunks. We do not publish photos of skinny kids, but of rugged, muscular he-men. We are careful that there is never anything at all suggestive in any of the poses or the physique photos of the men we use.

This is a serious situation, men. If we wish to continue to read legitimate physique and lifting magazines; if we wish to continue to have and attend physique shows and lifting contests; if we want to continue to enjoy working out in the many men health studios and gyms, we must clean up our field in this respect. Perhaps we will have to change many things. As you well know, we have nothing but admiration for big muscles and great strength. You will, however, note more of a trend toward material on general health, physical fitness and encouragement for older men in Iron Man. We do not intend to abandon the muscle building enthusiasts, and will continue to bring them the best information in the field without fantastic and ridiculous claims or sales gimmicks. But we will broaden our field of coverage as has been noted in recent months, to cover the total man -- his mental, social, and spiritual growth and development as well as the physical. This may be an unpopular procedure but it is the direction we have determined upon. We can do no less if we have the true interests of our readers at heart.

We ask your assistance and cooperation in all the above matters. Thank you very much for reading and thinking upon these things.