Sellers

Libby Sellers
Fall 2013
Professor Lori Bedell
Homosexuality
Throughout the ages, the term homosexuality has u!dergo!e a drasti" tra!sformatio!#
$hat used to "ause %ail time, &u!ishme!t, a!d disgra"e is !o' somethi!g that is be"omi!g
ordi!ary# Ho' did this tra!sformatio! "ome about( )ggressi*e a"ti*ism *astly altered the &ubli"
o&i!io!#
The idea of homosexuality is !ot !e'+ it has bee! me!tio!ed a!d re"orded throughout
history# Homosexuality "a! be tra"ed ba", to arou!d 2-00 B#.# to the /gy&tia! ma!i"urists,
0ia!,h,h!um a!d 1h!umhote&, 'ho li*ed i! the a!"ie!t /gy&tia! "ity of Sa22ara# )fter
studyi!g them buried side by side i! their tomb, /gy&tologist 3reg 4eeder !oted that the
images of the t'o me! are stri,i!gly similar to those of male5female married "ou&les o! other
tombs of the era 67".oy8# The me! 'ere de&i"ted !ose to !ose i! a "lose embra"e,
seemi!gly re&rese!ted as bei!g homosexual 67".oy8# Homosexuality "a! also be see! a great
deal i! the times of a!"ie!t 3ree"e+ it 'as a !ormal &ra"ti"e there# 9! a!"ie!t 3ree"e, there
!e*er 'as a 'ord to des"ribe homosexual &ra"ti"es: they 'ere sim&ly &art of aphrodisia, lo*e,
'hi"h i!"luded me! a!d 'ome! ali,e 6;ole!8# .ertai! 3re"ia! armies &romoted gay sex
be"ause they sa' it as a 'ay to bri!g the me! i!to "loser bo!ds 'ith o!e a!other# 9! a!"ie!t
times, o!e 3ree, "ity state a"tually re"ruited a regime!t of male lo*ers, the so5"alled Sa"red
Ba!d of Thebes 6.om&to!8# This army, "reated i! the -
th
"e!tury B#.#, "o!sisted of 1<0
homosexual 'arriors, 'ho 'ere 2uite su""essful i! their battles# Historia!s belie*ed that their
su""ess 'as due to the stro!g bo!ds they fashio!ed through the i!ter"ourse they shared#
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)lthough homosexuality 'as a""e&ted i! some "ultures, others *ie'ed it 'ith horror#
=e'ish la' &rohibited homosexuality# 9! 3e!esis "ha&ters 1> a!d 1?, the a""ou!t of Sodom a!d
3omorrah@s destru"tio! due to sexual &er*ersio! is des"ribed# 9! Le*iti"us 1>:22, it de"lares,
Aou shall !ot lie 'ith a male as o!e lies 'ith a female+ it is a! abomi!atio!, s&ea,i!g to the
male &o&ulatio! 6AouBersio!8# Le*iti"us 20:13 states that the a"t of homosexuality is
i!a&&ro&riate: 9f there is a ma! 'ho lies 'ith a male as those 'ho lie 'ith a 'oma!, both of
them ha*e "ommitted a detestable a"t+ they shall surely be &ut to death 6AouBersio!8# The
=e'ish la's a!d *ie's "o!sumed the mi!ds of ma!y &eo&le, !ot allo'i!g a""e&ta!"e of
homosexuality to o""ur#
The .hristia! "hur"h too, u& the "rusade agai!st homosexuality# They ado&ted the
=e'ish la's as &art of the Bible# The .atholi" .hur"h@s do"tri!e states, CBasi!g itself o! sa"red
S"ri&ture, 'hi"h &rese!ts homosexual a"ts as a"ts of gra*e de&ra*ity, traditio! has al'ays
de"lared that homosexual a"ts are i!tri!si"ally disordered# They are "o!trary to the !atural la'D
E!der !o "ir"umsta!"es "a! they be a&&ro*edC 6.ate"hism of the .atholi" .hur"h 23<F8# 7ore
moder! de!omi!atio!s also "o!dem! homosexuality# The Souther! Ba&tist .o!*e!tio! asserts:
$e affirm 3odGs &la! for marriage a!d sexual i!tima"y H o!e ma!, a!d o!e 'oma!, for life#
Homosexuality is !ot a I*alid alter!ati*e lifestyle#@ The Bible "o!dem!s it as si! 6Souther!
Ba&tist .o!*e!tio!8# These de!omi!atio!s are !ot alo!e# ) ma%ority of "o!gregatio!s ha*e
do"tri!al stateme!ts 'hi"h "o!dem! or &rohibit homosexuality#
Homosexuality 'as !ot o!ly &u!ished by religious la's, it be"ame &u!ishable by se"ular
la's as 'ell# ;uri!g the Bi,i!g )ges, those S"a!di!a*ia!s 'ho attem&ted to a*oid marriage
be"ause of their sexuality 'ere &e!aliJed i! la' 6Halla,ar*a8# Homosexual a"ts 'ere fro'!ed
u&o! hea*ily i! that "ulture# Bisho& KorlL,r KMrhallso! of S,LholtGs Pe!ete!tial lists &e!a!"es
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of !i!e or te! years that i!"lude floggi!g for Iadultery bet'ee! males@D a!d says of lesbia!ism
that Iif 'ome! satisfy ea"h other they shall be ordered the same &e!a!"e as me! 'ho &erform
the most hideous adultery bet'ee! them@ 6Halla,ar*a8#
Se"ular la's i! the &ast 200 years "o!ti!ued stri"t &erse"utio! of homosexual beha*ior#
)""ordi!g to the 3ay 4ights Site, 1>32, 4ussia "rimi!aliJes homosexual a"ts ma,i!g them
&u!ishable by u& to fi*e years exile i! Siberia u!der )rti"le ??< of its !e' "rimi!al "ode 63ay
4ights Site8# 9! 3reat Britai!, the last ,!o'! exe"utio! for homosexuality 'as i! 1>3N# 9!
/!gla!d i! 1>N1, the Offe!"es )gai!st the Perso! )"t 'as ame!ded to remo*e the death
se!te!"e for Ibuggery#@ The &e!alty be"ame im&riso!me!t from 10 years to life 63ay 4ights
Site8# Buggery 'as the 'ord for homosexuality at the time 6Li!der8# 9! a more s&e"ifi"
i!sta!"e, a famous "i*il "ase of &u!ishme!t for homosexuality too, &la"e o! )&r N, 1>?<, 'he!
a ma! !amed Os"ar $ilde 'as im&riso!ed for his homosexuality# Wilde violated Section 11 of
the Criminal Law Amendment Act, "ommo!ly ,!o'! as the Labou"here )me!dme!t, 'hi"h 'as
origi!ally &assed to &rose"ute male homosexuals 'here a"tual sodomy "ould !ot be &ro*e!
6$i,i&edia8# Pre"edi!g 1>N1, the &e!alty for sodomy 'as death, but it 'as altered to be"ome
im&riso!me!t# 9! 1>?<, Lo!do! %ury fou!d Os"ar $ilde guilty of *iolati!g Se"tio! 11 of the
.rimi!al La' )me!dme!t )"t# For his "rime, $ilde s&e!t t'o years i! &riso! 6Li!der8# The
"ase of Os"ar $ilde is %ust o!e of hu!dreds of "ases 'here a! i!di*idual 'as &e!aliJed for
homosexuality#
9! the E!ited States, most of the la's agai!st homosexuality 'ere &assed by states
themsel*es, !ot the federal go*er!me!t# For exam&le, i! Pe!!syl*a!ia, a la' &assed i! 1>2?
stated: the &e!alty for sodomy 'as redu"ed, for a first offe!se, to fi*e years, 'ith a se"o!d
offe!se to be &u!ished 'ith u& to 10 years# )ll &riso!ers 'ere to be ,e&t i! solitary "o!fi!eme!t
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at labor# They 'ere allo'ed o!ly "oarse food a!d !o *isitors 6Pai!ter8# Pe!!syl*a!ia e*e!
&assed a la' that i!"luded oral sex: Pe!!syl*a!ia e!a"ted a !e' sodomy la' i! 1>F?

that
ex&ressly ex&a!ded the rea"h of the la' to i!"lude I&e!etrati!g the mouth#@ This 'as the first
la' e!a"ted i! the E!ited States explicitly "o*eri!g oral sex 6Pai!ter8#
The moder!5day la's surrou!di!g homosexuality are less harsh, but !e*ertheless are i!
existe!"e# 9! the bul, of the states i! the E#S#, same5sex marriage is illegal# )""ordi!g to the
$ashi!gto! Post, a mere 1< states, &lus the ;istri"t of .olumbia, allo' same5sex marriage, a!d
3< states ha*e limitatio!s o! it 6)hu%a8# The o*erall *ie's o! same5sex marriage a!d
homosexuality are ge!erally more a""e&ti!g a!d u!dersta!di!g tha! they 'ere &re*iously#
Ho'e*er, !egati*e "o!!otatio!s a!d &rior o&i!io!s still li!ger a!d arise duri!g dis"ussio!s about
the to&i"#
The shift of o&i!io! to'ards homosexuality be"omes 2uite e*ide!t 'he! "om&ari!g
histori"al homosexual *ie's to moder!5day *ie's# Homosexuality gai!ed a !e' re&utatio! 'he!
the a"t bega! to be diag!osed as a me!tal disorder# Psy"hologists a!d &sy"hiatrists did not fully
understand what homosexuality was and therefore thought it was a disease of the mind. They
could not comprehend that a man or woman would stray from the ordinary sexual orientation of
human eings. So, when faced with individuals who were sexually attracted to their own sexes,
doctors were confused and somewhat affled. The Textoo! of "omosexuality and #ental
"ealth states: )s &er"e&tio!s of the I"auses@ of homosexuality refle"ted the fears of so"iety, so
the treatme!t refle"ted the a&&ro&riate &u!ishme!ts for the tra!sgressio!sD The beha*iorist
s"hool i! &sy"hology also attem&ted to "o!*ert gay &eo&le i!to heterosexualsD Three forms of
a*ersio! thera&y 'ere used# The first 'as ele"tri"al a*ersio! thera&yD )!other te"h!i2ue 'as
"alled "o*ert se!sitiJatio!, i! 'hi"h disgust a!d images of *omit 'ere thought to "ure
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homosexual desire# The third ty&e of a*ersio! thera&y used the drug a&omor&hi!e, 'hi"h
i!du"es !ausea i! the &atie!t 6Sil*erstei!8# Psy"hologists a!d &sy"hiatrists had !o "lue 'hat to
do about homosexuals, !or ho' to diag!ose them, but they belie*ed they !eeded a diag!osis#
9! 1?1F, a ma! !amed Stei!a"h i!trodu"ed the first attem&t at surgi"ally "uri!g a homosexual#
Follo'i!g him, a!other ma! by the !ame of 4oeder attem&ted surgi"al treatme!t i! 1?N2, but
both me! failed i! their efforts 6Sil*erstei!8#
9! 1?F3, the )meri"a! Psy"hiatri" )sso"iatio! offi"ially *oted to remo*e homosexuality
from its list of me!tal disorders# This 'as due to the riots a!d belligere!t a"ts led by gay rights
ad*o"ates a!d disgru!tled "itiJe!s# Led by radi"alsD same5ge!der sex a"ti*ists atta",ed ma!y
&sy"hiatrists &ubli"ly 6Listi8# )s $ewswee! des"ribes, 9t is the &sy"hiatrists 'ho ha*e
ex&erie!"ed the full rage of the homosexual a"ti*ists# O*er the &ast t'o years, gay5lib
orga!iJatio!s ha*e re&eatedly disru&ted medi"al meeti!gsD a grou& of 30 milita!ts bro,e i!to a
meeti!g of the )meri"a! Psy"hiatri" )sso"iatio! i! $ashi!gto!, 'here they tur!ed the staid
&ro"eedi!gs i!to !ear "haos for t'e!ty mi!utes# I$e are here to de!ou!"e your authority to "all
us si", or me!tally disordered,@ shouted the grou&@s leader, ;r# Fra!,li! 1ame!yD IFor us, as
homosexuals, your &rofessio! is the e!emy i!"ar!ate# $e dema!d that &sy"hiatrists treat us as
huma! bei!gs, !ot as &atie!ts to be "uredP@ 60e's'ee,, >5235F1, &#-F8# 9! =u!e of the follo'i!g
year, Fra!,li! 1ame!y 'rote a letter to the Psy"hiatri" 0e's threate!i!g the )P) 'ith !ot o!ly
more, but 'orse, disru&tio!s# 9! this letter he asserted, IOur &rese!"e there 'as o!ly the
begi!!i!g of a! i!"reasi!gly i!te!si*e "am&aig! by homosexuals to "ha!ge the a&&roa"h of
&sy"hiatry to'ard homosexuality or, faili!g that, to dis"redit &sy"hiatry@ 6The 3ay .rusaders &#
13051318# ;ue to the u!rest a!d aggressio! sho'! by ma!y &eo&le, the )P) de"ided to ta,e
a"tio! of their o'! a!d remo*e homosexuality from the list of me!tal disorders# )fter this,
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&eo&le bega! to u!dersta!d that homosexuality 'as !ot a me!tal ill!ess, rather %ust a te!de!"y to
be sexually attra"ted to a differe!t sex tha! 'hat 'as thought to be !ormal i! so"iety#
9t 'ould be diffi"ult to fi!d a &erso! 'ho does!@t ,!o' about the L3BT "ommu!ity
!o'adays# The gro'i!g &o&ulatio! of &eo&le 'ho are "omi!g out a!d admitti!g to be
homosexual has bee! brought to )meri"a@s atte!tio!, a!d it is seemi!gly be"omi!g gradually
more a""e&ted# The letters i! the a"ro!ym 6L3BT8 sta!d for lesbia!, gay, bisexual, a!d
tra!sge!der, a!d the terms all arose after homosexuality 'as "o!sidered !ot to be de*ia!t# The
fight to a""e&t homosexuals is a &he!ome!o! that has begu! to s'ee& the !atio!# The
"ommu!ity of gays is i!"reasi!g# )""ordi!g to a !e' study "o!du"ted by the 0atio!al .e!ter for
Health Statisti"s a!d the .e!ters for ;isease .o!trol a!d Pre*e!tio! fou!d that o!ly 1#-Q of
&eo&le i! the E!ited States "laim to be homosexual, "o!trary to the &o&ular belief that about 1
out of e*ery 10 &eo&le is homosexual# 9! his arti"le for %SA Today, 7i"hael 7ed*ed stated,
E.L)Gs $illiams 9!stitute o! Sexual Orie!tatio! La' a!d Publi" Poli"y offered a !e' estimate
of homosexual ide!tifi"atio!: "o!"ludi!g that 1#FQ of )meri"a!s say theyGre gay a!d a slightly
larger grou& 61#>Q8 ide!tified as bisexual R by defi!itio! attra"ted to both ge!ders a!d sha&i!g
their sexual beha*ior through some mixture of i!"li!atio! a!d &refere!"e 67ed*ed8#
Peo&le are realiJi!g that the feeli!gs they ha*e, te!de!"ies to be attra"ted to their same
sex, are !o lo!ger fro'!ed u&o! by the ma%ority, a!d they do!@t ha*e to hide it a!ymore# .omi!g
out to frie!ds, family members, a!d the &ubli" used to i!%e"t fear i!to hearts of ma!y# But !o' it
has be"ome somethi!g that is easier be"ause &eo&le ,!o' they 'ill ha*e a "ommu!ity to su&&ort
a!d a""e&t them !o matter 'hat# For i!sta!"e, the 'ebsite, htt&:SS'''#dailystre!gth#org has
su&&ort systems, ti&s, a!d hel&ful i!formatio! o! sub%e"ts su"h as "omi!g out, gay a!d
lesbia! tee!s, a!d "halle!ges gay me! fa"e# 9! additio!, the L3BT 'ebsite itself has a 3et
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Su&&ort 9! Aour )rea o&tio!, 'here homosexual i!di*iduals "a! fi!d hel& a!d su&&ort, or they
"a! "all the L3BT hotli!e# L3BT states, The L3BT Hel&li!e is a !o!5%udgme!tal a!d
"o!fide!tial ser*i"e &ro*idi!g liste!i!g, su&&ort a!d i!formatio! to lesbia!, gay, bisexual a!d
tra!sge!der &eo&le, their family a!d frie!ds, a!d to those 'ho are 2uestio!i!g if they might be
L3BT 6L3BT8# Homosexuals "a! fi!d e!"ourageme!t a!d "omfort i! the fa"t that there is a
stro!g "ommu!ity outside of their &erso!al 'orlds that 'ill gi*e them hel& a!d su&&ort#
The shift i! &sy"hology allo'ed ma!y la's to be &assed i! fa*or of homosexuals#
.o!"e&ts su"h as ge!der e2uality a!d same5sex marriage that 'ere &u!ishable by the death
&e!alty &re*iously are !o' more "ommo!ly a""e&ted i! so"iety# Same5sex marriage restri"tio!s
ha*e bee! lifted i! the follo'i!g states: 7assa"husetts 6200-8, .o!!e"ti"ut 6200>8, 9o'a 6200?8,
Bermo!t 6200?8, 0e' Ham&shire 620108, 0e' Aor, 620118, $ashi!gto! 620128, 7ai!e 620128,
7aryla!d 620138, .alifor!ia 620138, ;ela'are 620138, 4hode 9sla!d 620138, 7i!!esota 620138,
0e' =ersey 620138, a!d 9lli!ois 620138# The ad*o"ates for gay rights are fi!di!g that their &leas
are bei!g heard, a!d so"iety i! ge!eral is a""e&ti!g the beha*ior of homosexuality# )""ordi!g to
7S0 0e's, Fred Sai!J of the Huma! 4ights .am&aig! "laims that 2013 is the gayest year i!
history 6.rary8#
The *ie' of homosexuality has "ome a lo!g 'ay H it "a! be *ie'ed li,e a &e!dulum
s'i!g# 9ts timeli!e has go!e from a!"ie!t a""e&ta!"e, to death a!d &u!ishme!t for thousa!ds of
years, a!d !o' retur!s to a""e&ta!"e o!"e more# $hether or !ot "ertai! &eo&le 'a!t to admit to
or agree 'ith it, the fa"t of the matter is that the &ositi*e re"e&tio! of homosexuality is
es"alati!g, a!d it is o!ly be"omi!g more &romi!e!t# The i!di*iduals 'ho stood u& to ma,e a
differe!"e a!d *oi"e their o&i!io!s are the true reaso! for the tra!sformatio!# $ithout them, la's
'ould !ot ha*e bee! "halle!ged, a!d times 'ould !ot ha*e "ha!ged#
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$or,s .ited:
7".oy, =oh!# C/*ide!"e of 3ay 4elatio!shi&s /xists as /arly as 2-00 B#.#C The &allas
#orning $ews T;allasU 20 =uly 1??>: !# &ag# 'vidence of (ay )elationships 'xists as 'arly as
*+,, -.C. The ;allas 7or!i!g 0e's, 1??># $eb# 2F O"t# 2013#
Vhtt&:SS'''#egy&tology#"omS!ia!,h,h!umW,h!umhote&Sdallas#htmlX#
;ole!, Hei! Ba!# C3ree, Homosexuality#C (ree! "omosexuality# 0#&#, !#d# $eb# 2F O"t#
2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#li*ius#orgSho5hJShomosexualityShomosexuality#htmlX#
.om&to!, Louis# CG)! )rmy of Lo*ersG 5 The Sa"red Ba!d of Thebes#C History Today,
1??-# $eb# 2> O"t# 2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#historytoday#"omSlouis5"om&to!Sarmy5lo*ers5sa"red5
ba!d5thebesX#
The AouBersio! Bible# /d# The Lo",ma! Fou!datio!# -ile. Leviticus 1./**.
Vhtt&s:SS'''#bible#"omSbibleS100Sle*#1>#22#!asbX#
C.ate"hism of the .atholi" .hur"h#C Catechism of the Catholic Church# 0#&#, !#d# $eb#
0> 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#*ati"a!#*aSar"hi*eS/03001<SW90;/Y#HT7X#
CSB. Positio! Stateme!ts 5 Sexuality#C S-C 0osition Statements 1 Sexuality# Souther!
Ba&tist .hur"h, 1???# $eb# 0> 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#sb"#!etSaboutusS&ssexuality#as&X#
Halla,ar*a, 3u!!ora# C9!ter!et History Sour"eboo,s Pro%e"t#C 2nternet "istory
Sourceoo!s 0ro3ect# Fordham E!i*ersity, !#d# $eb# 2F O"t# 2013#
Vhtt&:SS'''#fordham#eduShalsallS&'hSgay*i,#as&X#
CTimeli!e of 3ay History#C Timeline of (ay "istory# 3ay 4ights Site, 1< 7ar# 200?#
$eb# 0> 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#gayrightssite#"omStl-#htmlX#
Li!der, ;ouglas O# C$ildelibeltra!s"ri&t#C The Trials of 4scar Wilde# Famous Trials, !#d#
$eb# 0> 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SSla'2#um,"#eduSfa"ultyS&ro%e"tsSftrialsS'ildeS'ildela'&age#htmlX#
CLabou"here )me!dme!t#C Wi!ipedia# $i,imedia Fou!datio!, 10 Se&t# 2013# $eb# 0>
0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SSe!#'i,i&edia#orgS'i,iSLabou"hereW)me!dme!tX#
Pai!ter, 3eorge# CThe History of Sodomy La's i! the E!ited States 5 Pe!!sl*a!ia#C The
"istory of Sodomy Laws in the %nited States 1 0ennslvania# 0#&#, 1??1# $eb# 0> 0o*# 2013#
Vhtt&:SS'''#gla&!#orgSsodomyla'sSse!sibilitiesS&e!!sl*a!ia#htmX#
)hu%a, 7asuma, a!d /mily .ho'# CSame5sex 7arriage Status i! the E#S#C The
Washington 0ost# The $ashi!gto! Post, 22 O"t# 2013# $eb# 2> O"t# 2013#
Vhtt&:SS'''#'ashi!gto!&ost#"omS'&5sr*Ss&e"ialS&oliti"sSsame5sex5marriageSX#
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Sil*erstei!, .harles, .aba%, a!d Stei!# CHistory of Treatme!tSThe 7edi"al Treatme!t of
Homosexuality#C &octor Charles Silverstein# Textboo, of Homosexuality a!d 7e!tal Health,
!#d# $eb# 2> O"t# 2013# Vhtt&:SS'''#dr"sil*erstei!#"omS&ubli"atio!sShistoryX#
Listi, To!y# C.o!ser*ati*e .ollo2uium#C Conservative Collo5uium# 0#&#, 1 O"t# 200F#
$eb# 0> 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SS"o!ser*ati*e"ollo2uium#'ord&ress#"omS200FS10S01Shomosexual5
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disordersSX#
Tobi!, 1ay, a!d 4a!dy $i",er# The (ay Crusaders# 0e' Aor,: )r!o, 1?F<# 130531#
Pri!t#
7ed*ed, 7i"hael# CES) TO;)A#C %SAT4&A6.C4## ES) Today, 2- 7ay 2011# $eb#
0F 0o*# 2013# Vhtt&:SSusatoday30#usatoday#"omS!e'sSo&i!io!SforumS201150<5235Sex5sur*ey5
re*elatio!s5o!5gay5ide!tityW!#htmX#
C$el"ome To L3BT#ie#C Welcome To L(-T.ie# L3BT, !#d# $eb# 0F 0o*# 2013#
Vhtt&:SS'''#lgbt#ieSX#
.rary, ;a*id# C2013 Ggayest Aear i! 3ay History G 4ights )d*o"ates Say#C *,17 8gayest
6ear in (ay "istory 8 )ights Advocates Say# 7S0 0e's, 0N 0o*# 2013# $eb# 0> 0o*# 2013#
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